DENTAL LASER TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO PREVENT DISCOLORATION AND AGING

1 . A system for preventing one or more of discoloration and attrition of dental surfaces of a patient undergoing orthodontic realignment using a clear polymer aligner, the method comprising:

a laser arrangement configured to generate a laser beam;

an optical arrangement configured to direct the laser beam toward exposed tooth surfaces; and,

a laser controller configured to control the laser beam in order to heat at least a portion of the exposed tooth surfaces to affect one or more of a mechanical property and a chemical property, wherein the exposed tooth surfaces are located within a cavity of the clear polymer aligner when worn.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical property is one or more of crystallinity, hardness, and modulus.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the laser beam affects an increase in crystallinity of the exposed tooth surfaces, thereby slowing discoloration.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the chemical property is one or more of solubility to one or more acids, carbonate content, crystal shape, and crystal size.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the laser beam affects a decrease of solubility to one or more acids, thereby slowing attrition.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a composition configured to be applied to the exposed tooth surfaces.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the composition comprises one or more of a fluoride agent, a remineralization agent, a desensitization agent, and a whitening agent.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the exposed tooth surfaces comprise an aesthetic surface.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to perform the laser treatment prior to application of the clear polymer aligners.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to perform the laser treatment during or after application of the clear polymer aligners.

11 . A method for preventing one or more of discoloration and attrition of dental surfaces of a patient undergoing orthodontic realignment using a clear polymer aligner, the method comprising:

performing a laser treatment on exposed tooth surfaces on a plurality of the patient's teeth, wherein the laser treatment comprises:

generating, using a laser arrangement, a laser beam;

directing, using an optical arrangement, the laser beam toward the exposed tooth surfaces; and,

controlling, using a laser controller, the laser beam in order to heat at least a portion of the exposed tooth surfaces to affect one or more of a mechanical property and a chemical property, wherein the exposed tooth surfaces are located within a cavity of the clear polymer aligner when worn.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the mechanical property is one or more of crystallinity, hardness, and modulus.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the laser beam affects an increase in crystallinity of the exposed tooth surfaces, thereby slowing discoloration.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the chemical property is one or more of solubility to one or more acids, carbonate content, crystal shape, and crystal size.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the laser beam affects a decrease of solubility to one or more acids, thereby slowing attrition.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising applying a composition to the exposed tooth surfaces.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the composition comprises one or more of a fluoride agent, a remineralization agent, a desensitization agent, and a whitening agent.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the exposed tooth surfaces comprise an aesthetic surface.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method is performed prior to application of the clear polymer aligners.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method is performed during or after application of the clear polymer aligners.