Journal of the American Orthodontic Society • September-October 2013 • Page 16

By Sam Desai, DDS asers have multiple applications and uses in our modern world. They are considered state-of-the-art in modern technology. The term laser originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission Radiation. Since their inception, lasers have developed to include vast applications in our lives, from laser light pointers to the medical-surgical field involving procedures like Lasix surgery. We can find lasers in common consumer devices such as DVD players, laser printers and barcode scanners so it should come as no surprise that lasers are also in use in dentistry. Lasers have been used in the medical field for a long time. The use of lasers in Ophthalmology is most widely found with Lasix eye surgery. In dentistry, there are two types of lasers that are used: the Hard tissue laser and Soft tissue laser. One does not have to be an “Einstein” to understand and use a laser. Modern lasers operate when a material becomes “excited” due to energy being applied to the system. The active medium may consist of gas molecules in liquid ions or in a crys-tal or other medium. Laser energy is cohesive, focused, efficient, non-ionizing, non-damaging and of a monochromatic wavelength. In this article, I will present and discuss the soft tissue diode laser and its use in orthodontics. The Fig. 1 Fig. 1a &#0a; &#1f;&#1c;  &#1b;&#1d; &#1e;&#1a;&#1b;&#1e;&#1c;&#1b; &#1f;&#0d;&#1f;&#1c;&#1b;&#1f;&#1d;&#1a;  &#1f;&#1a;&#1d;&#1a; &#1e;&#1c; &#1e;&#1c;&#1e;&#1f; &#1f;&#1e;&#1f;&#1b;&#1e;&#1c;&#1a; &#1f;&#1d; &#1b;&#1f;&#1b; &#1b;&#1d;&#1d; &#1e;&#1a; &#1c; &#1d;&#1d;&#1e;&#1c;
 &#1c; &#1f;&#1e;&#1c;
 &#1c; &#1a;&#0f;&#1b;&#0f;&#1d;&#1a;
 &#1f;&#1a;&#1b;&#1d; &#1d;&#1f;&#1e;&#1c;
 &#1f; &#1d;&#1f;&#1c; &#1a;&#0f;&#1e;&#1f; &#1e;&#1d;
 &#1f;&#1c; &#0e;&#1e;&#1c;&#1e;&#0e;&#0f;&#0e;  &#1c; &#1e;&#1c;&#1d;&#1b;&#1e;&#1c;&#1a; &#1d;&#0f;&#1e;&#1d;  &#1f;&#1c;&#1d;&#1a;&#1b;&#1d;&#1a;&#1e;&#1f;&#0c; Picasso diode laser (AMD lasers) (Figs.1 & 1a) was used to perform all soft tissue surgical procedures presented. When looking at the electromagnetic spectrum lasers fall between the radiowave-microwave-TV wavelength and visible light wavelength. The CO2 lasers have a wavelength of about 10600, Nd YAG. The hard tissue laser has a wavelength of 1064. The Diode laser has a wavelength of about 810 to 840. The soft tissue diode laser has more homeostasis, deeper penetration, and slower cutting. It is an end cutting instrument, mean-ing it cuts from dot to dot. Lasers can work by either a continuous or an interrupted, (pulse) wave. The soft tissue laser as the name suggests is used as a soft tissue management device. It can also be used as an alternate to electrosurgery. Many of the distinct 16 September/October 2013 JAOS