DELIVERY OF RADIATION FOR DENTAL HARD TISSUE TREATMENT
Embodiments relate to a systems and methods for preventative irradiative dental treatment. In accordance with one embodiment, a system and method include using a radiation source to generate a radiation; using an optic disposed to accept the radiation to internally reflect he radiation at a first end; using at least one side of the optic to contact a dental hard tissue; using the optic to couple some of the radiation into the dental hard tissue; and, using a controller to control a parameter of the radiation to heat a surface of the dental hard tissue.
1 . A system comprising:
a laser arrangement configured to generate a laser beam;
a controller configured to control one or more parameters of the laser beam;
a focus optic configured to converge the laser beam with a numerical aperture less that 0.1 to a focal region; and
a diamond optic comprising:
an input face, at a first end of the diamond optic, substantially perpendicular to an optical path of the laser beam and disposed to accept the laser beam;
two output faces, at a second end of the diamond optic, each of the two output faces coming together at an edge, wherein:
the edge is configured to be positioned underneath a gumline and between a tooth and gums of a patient;
the two output faces are positioned at an angle selected to facilitate output of the laser beam, irradiating dental tissue of the patient.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the input face is located proximal the focal region.
3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a beam scanning system located between the laser arrangement and the focus optic, wherein the beam scanning system is configured to introduce an angular displacement of the laser beam and displace a location of the laser beam at at least one of the two output faces.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the diamond tip is non-cylindrical.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the diamond tip is one or more of rectangular, square, or hexagonal.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the dental tissue is dental hard tissue comprising one or more of enamel, dentin, and cementum.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the laser arrangement is configured to generate a laser beam having a wavelength within a range of 8,000 and 12,000 nm; and, the system cleans one or more of plaque, biofilm, and tartar from the dental hard tissue beneath the gumline.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to control one or parameters for the laser beam, such that a portion of the surface of the dental hard tissue beneath the gumline is heated to a temperature in a range of 400° C. and 1300° C.
9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more parameters of the laser beam comprises one or more of repetition rate, pulse energy, pulse duration, average power, peak power, and wavelength.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the dental tissue is dental soft tissue.
11 . A method comprising:
generating, using a laser arrangement, a laser beam;
controlling, using a controller, one or more parameters of the laser beam;
converging, using a focus optic, the laser beam with a numerical aperture less that 0.1 to a focal region; and
accepting, using an input face at a first end of a diamond optic that is substantially perpendicular to an optical path of the laser beam, the laser beam;
positioning, using an edge where two output faces at a second end of the diamond optic come together, underneath a gumline and between a tooth and gums of a patient;
outputting, using the two output faces positioned at a selected angle, the laser beam; and
irradiating, using the output laser beam, dental tissue of the patient.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the input face is located proximal the focal region.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising introducing an angular displacement of the laser beam, using a beam scanning system located between the laser arrangement and the focus optic, and displacing a location of the laser beam at at least one of the two output faces.
14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the diamond tip is non-cylindrical.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the diamond tip is one or more of rectangular, square, or hexagonal.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the dental tissue is dental hard tissue comprising one or more of enamel, dentin, and cementum.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
generating, using the laser arrangement, the laser beam having a wavelength within a range of 8,000 and 12,000 nm; and
cleaning one or more of plaque, biofilm, and tartar from the dental hard tissue beneath the gumline.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
controlling, using the controller, one or parameters for the laser beam; and
heating a portion of the surface of the dental hard tissue beneath the gumline is to a temperature in a range of 400° C. and 1300° C.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more parameters of the laser beam comprises one or more of repetition rate, pulse energy, pulse duration, average power, peak power, and wavelength.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the dental tissue is dental soft tissue.