Wigdor H A, Walsh J T, Featherstone J D, Visuri S R, Fried D, Waldvogel J L
Ravenswood Hospital Medical Center, Wenske Laser Center, Chicago, IL 60640, USA.
Lasers Surg Med. 1995;16(2):103-33. doi: 10.1002/lsm.1900160202.
Since the development of the ruby laser by Maiman in 1960, there has been great interest among dental practitioners, scientists, and patients to use this tool to make dental treatment more pleasant. Oral soft tissue uses are becoming more common in dental offices. The possible multiple uses of lasers in dentistry, beyond soft tissue surgery and dental composite curing, unfortunately, have not yet been realized clinically. These include replacement of the dental drill with a laser, laser dental decay prevention, and laser decay detection. The essential question is whether a laser can provide equal or improved treatment over conventional care. Safe use of lasers also must be the underlying goal of proposed or future laser therapy. With the availability and future development of different laser wavelengths and methods of pulsing, much interest is developing in this growing field. This article reviews the role of lasers in dentistry since the early 1960s, summarizes some research reports from the last few years, and proposes what the authors feel the future may hold for lasers in dentistry.
自1960年迈曼发明红宝石激光以来，牙科从业者、科学家和患者都对使用这一工具让牙科治疗更舒适产生了浓厚兴趣。口腔软组织方面的应用在牙科诊所正变得越来越普遍。遗憾的是，除了软组织手术和牙科复合材料固化外，激光在牙科领域可能的多种用途尚未在临床上实现。这些用途包括用激光取代牙钻、激光预防龋齿以及激光检测龋齿。关键问题在于激光能否提供与传统治疗相当或更好的治疗效果。激光的安全使用也必须是提议的或未来激光治疗的根本目标。随着不同激光波长和脉冲方法的出现及未来发展，这个不断发展的领域正引发诸多关注。本文回顾了自20世纪60年代初以来激光在牙科领域的作用，总结了过去几年的一些研究报告，并提出了作者认为激光在牙科领域的未来发展方向。
