Lasers have become a popular tool in veterinary practice, particularly the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. In humans, the CO2 laser is used most commonly in oral and maxillofacial soft tissue surgery due to its favorable interactions with oral soft tissues. Other types of lasers are better suited for use on hard tissues such as enamel and dentin. This article reviews the history of laser use, physics of laser-tissue interaction, delivery systems, and laser types used in dentistry and oral surgery. This is followed by a case report describing the use of CO2 laser as an adjunctive treatment for therapy of refractory caudal stomatitis in a cat.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
GoldmanLGoldmanBVan LieuN. Current laser dentistry. Lasers Surg Med1987; 6: 559–562.
2.
MaimanTH. Stimulated optic radiation in ruby. Nature1960; 187: 493–494.
3.
StraussRAGuttenbergSA. Lasers in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Oral Maxillofacial Surg Clin North Am2004; 16:xi–xii.
4.
PeavyGM. Lasers and laser-tissue interaction. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract2002; 32: 517–534.
MoritzASchoopU. Long-term effects of CO2 laser irradiation on treatment of hypersensitive dental necks: Results of an in vivo study. J Clin Laser Med Surg1998; 16: 211–215.
10.
MoritzAGutknechtN. The carbon dioxide laser as an aid in apicoectomy: An in vitro study. J Clin Laser Med Surg1997; 15: 185–188.
11.
ColuzziDJ. An overview of laser wavelengths used in dentistry. Dent Clin North Am2000; 44: 753–765.
12.
PowellGLBlankenauRJ. Effects of argon laser curing on dentin shear bond strengths. J Clin Laser Med Surg1996; 14: 111–113.
13.
KelseyWPBlankenauRJPowellGL. Application of the argon laser to dentistry. Lasers Surg Med1991; 11: 495–498.
14.
LukKTamLHubertM. Effect of light energy on peroxide tooth bleaching. J Am Dent Assoc2004; 135: 194–201.
15.
LommerMJVerstraeteFJM. Concurrent oral shedding of feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus 1 in cats with chronic gingivostomatitis. Oral Microbiol Immunol2003; 18: 131–134.
16.
FryTR. Laser safety. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract2002; 32:535–547.
BellowsJ. Laser use in veterinary dentistry. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract2002; 32: 673–692.
19.
TaneyKGSmithMM. Surgical extraction of impacted teeth in a dog. J Vet Dent2006; 23: 168–177.
20.
LinickS. Surgical incline plane using a CO2 laser in a dog. Proceedings of the 16th Annual Veterinary Dental Forum, Savannah 2002; 142.
21.
ManningTOCraneSW. Three cases of feline eosinophilic granuloma complex (eosinophilic ulcer) and observations on laser therapy. Semin Vet Med Surg Small Anim1987; 2: 206–211.
22.
SurgeonTW. CO2 laser therapy for chronic ulcerative paradental stomatitis. Proceedings of the 16th Annual Veterinary Dental Forum, Savannah2002; 123–124.
23.
BellowsJ. Small animal dental equipment, materials and techniques: A primer. Ames, IA: Blackwell, 2004; 346–358.
24.
LyonKF. Gingivostomatitis. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract2005; 35: 891–911.
ClarkGNSinibaldiKR. Use of a carbon dioxide laser for treatment of elongated soft palate in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc1994; 204: 1779–1781.
27.
DavidsonEBDavisMS. Evaluation of carbon dioxide laser and conventional incisional techniques for resection of soft palates in brachycephalic dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc2001; 219: 776–781.
28.
RiecksTWBirchardSJStephensJA. Surgical correction of brachycephalic syndrome in dogs: 62 cases (1991–2004). J Am Vet Med Assoc2007; 230: 1324–1328.
29.
HoltTLMannFA. Soft tissue application of lasers. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract2002; 32: 569–599.
30.
AnthonyJM. The use of ND:YAG Laser for treatment of feline osteoclastic resorptive lesions. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc2001; 37: 17–20.
31.
SunakawaMTokitaYSudaH. Pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation of the tooth pulp in the cat: II. Effect of scanning lasing. Lasers Surg Med2000; 26: 477–484.
32.
TokitaYSunakawaMSudaH. Pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation of tooth pulp in the cat: I. Effect of spot lasing. Lasers Surg Med2000; 24: 398–404.
33.
SalisburySKThackerHL. Partial maxillectomy in the dog: Comparison of suture materials and closure techniques. Vet Surg1985; 14: 265–276.
34.
HardyWDZuckermanECorbishleyJ. Serological evidence that Bartonella cause gingivitis and stomatitis in cats. Proceedings of the 16th Annual Veterinary Dental Forum, Savannah2002; 79–82.
35.
GlausTHofmann-LehmannR. Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae infection and correlation with disease status in cats in Switzerland. J Clin Microbiol1997; 35: 2883–2885.
36.
de BlancS LopezSambuelliRJ. Bacillary angiomatosis affecting the oral cavity. Report of two cases and review. Oral Pathol Med2000; 29: 91–96.
37.
MonteilRAMichielsJF. Histological and ultrastructural study of one case of oral bacillary angiomatosis in HIV disease and review of the literature. Eur J Cancer B Oral Oncol1994; 30B: 65–71.
38.
GoldmanMPFitzpatrickRE. Laser treatment of scars. Dermatol Surg1995; 21:685–687.
39.
AlsterT. Laser scar revision: Comparison study of 585-nm pulsed dye laser with and without intralesional corticosteroids. Dermatol Surg2003; 29: 25–29.
40.
GutknechtNFranzenR. Bactericidal effect of a 980-nm diode laser in the root canal wall dentin of bovine teeth. Clin Laser Med Surg2004; 22: 9–13.
41.
SchoopUKlugerW. Bactericidal effect of different laser systems in the deep layers of dentin. Lasers Surg Med2004; 35: 111–116.
42.
KojimaTShimadaK. Inhibitory effects of a super pulsed carbon dioxide laser at low energy density on periodontopathic bacteria and lipopolysaccharide in vitro. J Periodontal Res2005; 40: 469–473.
43.
CrespiRBaroneACovaniU. Er:YAG laser scaling of diseased root surfaces: A histologic study. J Periodontol2006; 77: 218–222.
44.
AbedA MoghareTawakkoliM. A comparative SEM study between hand instrument and Er:YAG laser scaling and root planing. Lasers Med Sci2007; 22: 25–29.
45.
JawharaSMordonS. Monitoring of bactericidal action of laser by in vivo imaging of bioluminescent E. coli in a cutaneous wound infection. Lasers Med Sci2006; 21: 153–159.
46.
RobinsonDARomansCW. Evaluation of short-term limb function following unilateral carbon dioxide laser or scalpel onychectomy in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc2007; 230: 353–358.
47.
HolmbergDLBrissonBA. A prospective comparison of postoperative morbidity associated with the use of scalpel blades and lasers for onychectomy in cats. Can Vet J. 2006; 47: 162–163.
48.
RobertsonSATaylorPMSearJW. Systemic uptake of buprenorphine by cats after oral mucosal administration. Vet Rec2003; 152: 675–678.
49.
KogelBChristophT. Interaction of mu-opioid receptor agonists and antagonists with the analgesic effect of buprenorphine in mice. Eur J Pain2005; 9: 599–611.
50.
FranksJNBootheHW. Evaluation of transdermal fentanyl patches for analgesia in cats undergoing onychectomy. J Am Vet Med Assoc2000; 217: 1013–1020.
51.
HennetP. Chronic gingivostomatitis in cats: Long term follow-up of 30 cases treated by dental extractions. J Vet Dent1997; 14: 12–21.
52.
GanzCH. Laser CO2 Cordless Impression Technique. Proceedings of the 3rd Spot Check Exchange. Mt. Pleasant, SC2006; 24–25.
