SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LASER BASED WHITENING TREATMENT OF HARD TISSUE
The disclosed invention relates to a system and method for treatment of a dental hard tissue. The system can include a laser source for generating a laser beam; at least one optic in optical communication with the laser source and adapted to define and direct a non-ablative laser radiation to a treatment surface of the hard dental tissue; and a conduit adapted to apply a whitening treatment to the treatment surface, wherein application of both the non-ablative laser radiation and the whitening treatment results in a ΔE measurement of at least 2.5 times greater than a treatment surface without application of the non-ablative laser radiation.
1 . A system for treating a dental hard tissue, comprising:
a laser source for generating a laser beam;
at least one optic in optical communication with the laser source and adapted to define and direct a non-ablative laser radiation to a treatment surface of the dental hard tissue; and
a conduit adapted to apply a whitening treatment to the treatment surface, wherein application of both the non-ablative laser radiation and the whitening treatment results in a ΔE measurement of at least 2.5 times greater than a treatment surface without application of the non-ablative laser radiation.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the laser beam comprise a wavelength in a range from 9 μm to 11 μm.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optic comprises a galvanometer.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one optic further comprises a turning mirror.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the non-ablative laser radiation comprises a fluence profile at a focus having:
a maximum local fluence less than an upper threshold fluence, the upper threshold fluence defined as a minimum fluence that causes a surface modification of the dental hard tissue, and
at least one other local fluence greater than a lower threshold fluence, the lower threshold fluence defined as a fluence that causes at least one of (i) acid dissolution and (ii) decrease in an amount of surface carbonate.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the surface modification comprises at least one of melting and ablation.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the whitening treatment comprises at least one of bleach and hydrogen peroxide.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein application of both the non-ablative laser radiation and the whitening treatment further results in a microhardness measurement of at least 18% greater than the treatment surface without application of the non-ablative laser radiation, after bleach applications and a remineralization cycle comprising fluoride.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein application of both the non-ablative laser radiation and the whitening treatment further results in an inhibited demineralization of at least 64% greater than the treatment surface without application of the non-ablative laser radiation.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein application of both the non-ablative laser radiation and the whitening treatment further results in a Vita shade guide measurement of at least 6 times greater than the treatment surface without application of the non-ablative laser radiation.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein application of both the non-ablative laser radiation and the whitening treatment further results in a Vita shade guide measurement of at least 6 times greater than the treatment surface without application of the non-ablative laser radiation and the whitening treatment.
12 . A system for treating a dental hard tissue, comprising:
a laser source for generating a laser beam;
at least one optic in optical communication with the laser source and adapted to define and direct a non-ablative laser radiation to a treatment surface of the hard dental tissue; and
a conduit adapted to apply a whitening treatment to the treatment surface, wherein application of both the non-ablative laser radiation and the whitening treatment results in a microhardness measurement of at least 18% greater than a treatment surface without application of the non-ablative laser radiation.
13 . A system for treating a dental hard tissue, comprising:
a laser source for generating a laser beam;
at least one optic in optical communication with the laser source and adapted to define and direct a non-ablative laser radiation to a treatment surface of the hard dental tissue; and
a conduit adapted to apply a whitening treatment to the treatment surface, wherein application of both the non-ablative laser radiation and the whitening treatment results in a Vita shade guide measurement of at least 6 times greater than a treatment surface without application of the non-ablative laser radiation and the whitening treatment.
14 .- 16 . (canceled)