Laser system for enhancing remineralization and strength of hard tissue
A laser-based system and method for treatment of hard tissue enhances remineralization and fluoride uptake to improve resistance to demineralization. The system can include a laser source, an optic, and a controller for controlling the laser source and/or the optic to deliver radiation to a treatment region with desirable characteristics (e.g., to remove carbonate without damaging the tissue surface). In some cases, the system includes a handpiece having an optical element (e.g., a lens) mounted within a replaceable cartridge and adapted to modulate a laser beam to render the beam non-ablative, prior to the laser beam's delivery to the treatment region. In some embodiments, treatment with the laser can be combined with a fluoride treatment for enhanced therapeutic effect.
1. A method for treating a hard dental tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
generating a laser beam using a laser source;
directing the laser beam to a treatment surface of the hard dental tissue using an optic in optical communication with the laser source, wherein the laser beam comprises a spot size at the treatment surface in a range from 0.2 mm to 5 mm;
controlling the laser source and the optic using a controller to deliver the laser beam to the treatment surface to treat an area of the hard dental tissue at a rate in a range from 10 cm 2 /min to 20 cm 2 /min with a fluence in a range from 0.4 J/cm 2 up to 1.2 J/cm 2 to:
remove at least some carbonate from the treatment surface to generate an acid resistant surface without damaging the hard dental tissue;
thereafter determining a depth mineral loss (ΔZ) value of the hard dental tissue; and
confirming the ΔZ value of the hard dental tissue is at least 10% lower relative to untreated hard dental tissue.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser source comprises a CO 2 laser source.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the laser beam comprises a wavelength in a range from 9 μm to 11 μm.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optic comprises at least one of a galvanometer and a turning mirror.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further adapted to control the laser source to deliver the laser beam to the treatment surface in a series of pulses.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein each pulse in the series of pulses comprises a pulse energy in a range from 0.1 mJ to 50 mJ.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein each pulse in the series of pulses comprises a pulse duration in a range from 1 μsec to 100 μsec.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the series of pulses comprises a repetition rate in a range from 0.05 Hz to 10 Hz.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the series of pulses comprises a duty cycle in arrange from 0.1 to 10.
10. The method of claim 5 , wherein the controller is adapted to deliver the series of pulses to the treatment surface in a pattern.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pattern comprises a diameter in a range from 1 mm to 5 mm.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pattern comprises a number of locations in a range from 1 to 1,000.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pattern comprises 217 locations.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein a spacing between each location in the pattern is in a range from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling step further comprises using the controller to control the laser source to deliver the laser beam to the treatment surface to, when combined with a fluoride treatment, reduce a ΔZ value of the dental tissue by at least 20% relative to hard dental tissue subject to the fluoride treatment.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of delivering the fluoride treatment to the treatment surface.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling step further comprises using the controller to control the laser source to deliver the laser beam to the treatment surface to reduce a ΔS value of the dental tissue by at least 68% relative to untreated dental tissue.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling step further comprises using the controller to control the laser source to deliver the laser beam to the treatment surface to, when combined with a fluoride treatment, reduce a ΔS value of the dental tissue by at least 18% relative to hard dental tissue subject to the fluoride treatment.