By Dr. Robert Levine - July 26, 2021
HEMOSTASIS AND COAGULATION
Management of bleeding is an essential component in providing optimal dentistry for your patients. Whether it is controlling heme for a simple Class V restoration or the scanning of a crown preparation utilizing one of the virtual systems homeostatic control is essential.
So, this is where lasers can play an integral part in attaining this goal. There are many lasers out there in the market place that can support our needs. They range from the Low IR Diodes 808-1064nm, The CO2 Lasers both the 10,600 and the 9300nm and the Nd. Yag (1064nm)
Selection of a particular laser will be determined by the quality of the tissue that is presented and the skill set of the practitioner. Training is essential in order to obtain optimal results.
Our Diode Lasers are excellent coagulators and can be utilized in the activated hot tip mode or the non-activated pure laser mode. When we use the hot tip mode, we are generating tremendous amounts of heat which is focused on the tip. The tip must be moved quickly or the depth of the penetration of the heat will go deeper than we wish and possibly cause some collateral damage.
The non-activated tip of the diode utilized pure photon energy and requires a significant amount of chromophore to be absorbed. This increase in chromophore level can be found in the perio-pockets.
Although diode lasers are color absorbers, they are very weak in this area. Thus to insure adequate coagulation in areas outside the perio domain tip activation is required.
Activation can be accomplished utilizing articulating paper or even a wine cork.