Erbium Lasers in Co-COVID Dentistry. Times have remodeled distinctly with the unprecedented outbreak of a microbe that currently appears beyond control and each one of us is in the invisible circle of vulnerability. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the medical or dental community and in general remains uncalculated.
The dental practice has gained significance in terms of being the frontline professions in the rage of COVID 19. The guidelines for the dental industry are evolving placing absolute focus on prevention of contamination and transmission in various modes at the dental office.
There were always standardized protocols of sanitation and sterilization that were mandatory to any heath care facility. Surgical scrubs, face masks, Gloves were the basic norms to be followed. With the advent of Corona Virus, Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) has become the new absolute norm. These include face shields, gloves, glasses, gowns, head covers, masks, respirators and shoe covers. Adequate ventilation systems and professional sanitation contracts with authorized companies are additional requirements to minimize or rule out any potential risk factors. Mandatory check on every person entering the dental clinic with thermal guns and registration with Covid Information forms has become the new core of the practice.
Aerosols have been the cause of concern ever since the dawn of dentistry. With Covid in picture, aerosols are resurfacing in concerns.
Due to the basic difference between the mechanism and operation of lasers when compared to drills, lasers have been estimated to produce lesser contamination.
Based on the basic framework and functioning of lasers, following are the differences between laser and drill based dentistry:
- Water spray is a significant factor in aerosolization and splatter in a dental practice, leading to spread of harmful viruses, such as the common cold and influenza, herpes viruses and many other pathogens.
Erbium lasers in Co-COVID Dentistry utilize less air pressure (approx. 74% less) and water flow (approx. 67-83% less) in comparison to high-speed drills., thereby, the risk of aerosolization and splatter causing transmission of viruses, including COVID-19, is significantly minimized.
- Erbium lasers in Co-COVID Dentistry vaporize tooth structure using thermal energy as opposed to the mechanical process of conventional drills. During laser treatment, the Surface temperature of the tooth reaches reasonably high (up to 300 degrees)without transferring heat to the surrounding tissues. Viruses and bacteria are destroyed at temperatures above 60° C. In contrast, surface temperatures increase by only 11° C when using the drill.
- Furthermore, a drill cuts by mechanical means with a bur rotating up to 400,000 RPM which can spread material more than 18 inches outside of the oral cavity, potentially spreading harmful contagions. Laser beam on the other hand, majorly gets absorbed in its chromophore or gets transmitted with very bleak reflection or scatter outside and around.
- Erbium and Diode lasers dual wavelengths Sterilize the root canals up to the depth of 600 to 800 um in comparison to 100 um with the conventional root canal treatments. This is extremely important for treating an endodontic disease that realistically harbors millions of viruses and bacteria.
Going further:
Lasers prove to be environment friendly keeping in mind the impact of possible aerosolization at the dental office. Dental lasers significantly reduce aerosols and droplet splatter through less water flow and air pressure, kills viruses and bacteria due to rise in temperature at the contact spots of the beam.
As practices begin opening their doors, lasers along with other preventive protocols for Covid, Erbium lasers may set up foundation to be the new acumen in routine dental practices.
