Dental laser for the treatment of soft tissue

Abstract

A dental laser comprises a hand piece (100) having a grip region (100a) and a treatment tip (101) with an outlet point (101a), arranged at a distal end, for laser light (102), and further comprises a light source (103) and light conduction means (105) for providing laser light (102) at the outlet point (101a). The laser light (102) has a wavelength (104) of 445±20 nm, in particular, 445±10 nm and more particularly 445±5 nm, and an optical power output is provided at the outlet point in a power range of at least 2 W, advantageously at least 3 W and, in particular, 3.5 W. In another dental laser the laser light (102) has a wavelength (104) of 410±10 nm, and an optical power output is provided at the outlet point (101a) in a power range of no less than 1 W to no more than 2 W.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The invention relates to a dental laser that is designed for the treatment of soft tissue and that comprises a handpiece having an application tip for emitting the laser light. In dentistry the soft tissue, in particular, the gum is cut with a dental laser, which has more power than a dental laser for disinfecting periodontal pockets or root canals.PRIOR ART[0002]The prior art discloses the use of dental lasers that are designed to cut soft tissue and that use laser light in the infrared range. Typical wavelengths of such laser light are 810±15 nm, 940 nm or 975±15 nm. In this case the laser beams are introduced into an optical waveguide of the application tip; and the distal end of the optical waveguide is brought into contact with the soft tissue. In order to cut the soft tissue, power levels in a range of 2 to 6 W are used at the distal end of the application tip, so that the result is intense heating of the tissue not only in the actual operating area, but a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]The advantage of the fiber between 150 and 350 μm is that at these diameters the power level is relatively high in relation to the exit surface. The small diameter also enables small cutting widths, especially if the fiber is guided over the tissue to be cut without making contact, since the divergence of the radiation, which is primarily a function of the material of the light guide, has to be taken into account.

[0022]Advantageously a coolant line can be arranged in the handpiece; and there may be an outlet opening, from which the coolant, directed to the preparation site, issues. In this case the amount of coolant ranges preferably from 0.1 to 10 ml/min. The result of this output of the cooling

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, in the case of diode lasers, in which the wavelengths that are used have a high water absorption, no cooling is provided.

On the one hand, this heat input is necessary for cutting, but, on the other hand, may also lead t

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