Lasers in Diagnosis, Interception and Management of White Spot Lesions and Dental Caries - A Review

Abstract

Despite huge developments in oral health, dental caries still remains a community health issue globally. Dental caries is prevalent worldwide amongst adults and school children; nearly 100 % of the population is affected in most of the countries. Caries harms the outer dental structures, eventually reaching the dental pulp, making the teeth undermined and ultimately compromising functional abilities. It is the major reason for loss of tooth. For the management of carious lesions, the tissues which are decayed should be removed and replaced by dental restorations. Increased potential for causing dental anxiety and uneasiness in many patients has been reported with the usage of routine caries removal systems such as diamond and tungsten carbide rotating burs. Moreover, with the use of high and low rotating speed drills, which is used for complete dentin removal, over excavation of caries (when the deeper dentin layers are involved) may happen eventually leading to increased risk of exposing and damaging the pulp irreversibly. These disadvantages have led to exploration of new alternatives such as stepwise, minimal or no dentinal caries removal procedures that illustrate clinical benefit over comprehensive caries removal in the treatment of dentinal caries. Laser technology has reformed the management of dental caries. Laser has been found to be the latest, most recent, conservative, less traumatic and minimally invasive caries removal procedure. The energy of laser is absorbed which is then transformed to heat, leading to microstructural and chemical alterations in the surface of enamel which is irradiated thereby improving enamel acid resistance. Laser also helps to maintain a dry surrounding that improves the dentist’s vision of the working field thereby resulting in an improved outcome. KEY WORDS Lasers, White Spot Lesions, Dental Caries, Laser Fluorescence, Orthodontic Therapy, Carbon-Dioxide Laser