Investigations in the area of laser application in dental practices date back to 1964. Shortly after lasers came to being, they were introduced both in medicine and in dental medicine where they were successfully used for the diagnostics and treatment of a number of diseases. The current literature review presents the nature and properties of lasers and laser beams. Their biological and healing action is discussed. The most common lasers that are employed in dental practices are indicated. The accent is on high-energy lasers used in operative dentistry and periodontology, namely the Er:Cr:YSGG и Er:YAG lasers, and their emission characteristics. The focus in this literature review is on laser application in periodontal practices. The properties and indications of the most frequently applied lasers are indicated and their advantages are outlined. The latter are due to their specific biological and therapeutic effects both on healthy and on pathologically altered periodontal tissues.The paper also comprises clinical reports by renowned experts in periodontology about laser application in the treatment of different periodontial diseases. Twenty-seven articles are cited.
Scripta Scientifica Medica 2011;43(2): 87-91