The emerging role for lasers in endodontics and other areas of dentistry.

This article focuses on the emerging role of lasers in endodontic therapy, a discipline where lasers could significantly change the way we practice. The use of the CO2 laser in caries prevention therapy and laser etching is also discussed to illustrate how the same laser can be used for other important procedures in dental practice by simply varying the exposure parameters. Lasers will have a definitive place in dentistry in the future, but to be practical, one dental laser will have to be applicable to a number of therapeutic procedures. This article discusses just such a situation relating to a wide variety of endodontic procedures, caries preventive procedures, and laser etching of enamel. Due to its very favorable absorption on dental hard tissues, the CO2 laser will also undoubtedly be useful for many other procedures in dental practice.