Innovations in the treatment of dental caries using lasers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20251639Keywords:
Oral diseases, dental caries, technology, treatments, laserAbstract
Dental caries is a major oral disease, affecting 3.5 billion people globally and representing a significant public health burden. Traditionally, caries treatment has involved invasive procedures, such as the use of drills and anesthesia, which creates discomfort for patients. However, technological advances have introduced less invasive approaches, with lasers being an innovative tool in caries treatment. The study focused on reviewing the literature on the use of lasers in dentistry, particularly in the treatment of caries, with a descriptive-analytical approach. Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG lasers are the most commonly used lasers, as they allow precise removal of carious tissue and disinfect the treated surfaces, which reduces the risk of infections. In addition, their use reduces the need for local anesthesia, improving patient comfort. However, there are challenges, such as the high initial investment in equipment and the need for specialized training. Despite these obstacles, the growing preference of patients for laser treatments highlights its potential as a promising therapeutic option, positioning it as a key advance in modern dentistry.
References
1. Salari N, Darvishi N, Heydari M, Bokaee S, Darvishi F, Mohammadi M. Global prevalence of cleft palate, cleft lip and cleft palate and lip: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg [Internet]. 2022;123(2):110–20. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jormas.2021.05.008
2. Cueto Rostom V. Diagnóstico y tratamiento de lesiones cariosas incipientes en caras oclusales. Odontoestomatologia [Internet]. 2009;11(13):4–15. Available from: http://www.scielo.edu.uy/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1688-93392009000200002
3. Cardoso M, Coelho A, Lima R, Amaro I, Paula A, Marto CM, et al. Efficacy and patient’s acceptance of alternative methods for caries removal-a systematic review. J Clin Med [Internet]. 2020;9(11). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jcm9113407
4. Wu C-Z, Yuan Y-H, Liu H-H, Li S-S, Zhang B-W, Chen W, et al. Epidemiologic relationship between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. BMC Oral Health [Internet]. 2020;20(1). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12903-020-01180-w
5. Feng Z, Yuan R, Cheng L, Fan H, Si M, Hao Z. Effect of er:YAG laser irradiation on preventing enamel caries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Dent J [Internet]. 2024;74(4):679–87. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2024.01.022
6. Vinothkumar TS, Renugalakshmi A, M El-shamy FM, Homeida HE, Hommedi AIM, A Safhi MY, et al. Antibacterial effect of diode laser on different cariogenic bacteria: An In-vitro study. Niger J Clin Pract [Internet]. 2020;23(11):1578. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/njcp.njcp_108_20
7. Lardiés D., Almenara M. Láser en odontología, tejidos blandos y duros. Revisión de la literatura científica. Revista Sanitaria de Investigación. [Internet]. 2021;2(8). https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=8074677
8. Alyahya Y. A narrative review of minimally invasive techniques in restorative dentistry. Saudi Dent J [Internet]. 2024;36(2):228–33. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sdentj.2023.11.005
9. Pourhajibagher M, Bahrami R, Bahador A. Application of photosensitive dental materials as a novel antimicrobial option in dentistry: A literature review. J Dent Sci [Internet]. 2024;19(2):762–72. Available from: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1991790223004117
10. Briceño Castellanos JF, Gaviria Beitia DA, Carranza Rodríguez YA. Láser en odontología: fundamentos físicos y biológicos / Laser in Dentistry: Physical and Biological Foundations. Univ Odontol [Internet]. 2017;35(75). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.11144/javeriana.uo35-75.loff
11. Hernández-Sampieri, R., Fernández-Collado, R., & Baptista-Lucio, P. Metodología de la investigación. [Internet] 6.ª ed. Mexico, McGraw-Hill Education. 2014. Available from: https://apiperiodico.jalisco.gob.mx/api/sites/periodicooficial.jalisco.gob.mx/files/metodologia_de_la_investigacion_-_roberto_hernandez_sampieri.pdf
12. Donoso-Martínez FA, Bizcar B, Sandoval C, Sandoval-Vidal P. Aplicación del Láser de Baja Potencia (LLLT) en Pacientes Pediátricos: Revisión de Literatura a Propósito de una Serie de Casos. Int J Odontostomatol [Internet]. 2018;12(3):269–73. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/s0718-381x2018000300269
13. Wong YJ. Caries removal using lasers: Question: Does a laser remove caries as effectively as mechanical drilling? Evid Based Dent [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2025 Jan 16];19(2):45–45. Available from: https://www.nature.com/articles/6401303
14. España A. Introducción al uso del Láser en Odontología (2). Dental Tribune. [Internet]; 2022. Available from: https://la.dental-tribune.com/news/laser-en-odontologia-introduccion/.
15. Angeles R. Muñoz R, Puyón M, Taboada C, Vargas J, Vicente N. APLICACIONES DEL LÁSER DE ALTA POTENCIA. Revista Odontológica Pediátrica. [Internet]. 2020;19(2):74. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.33738/spo.v19i2
16. España A, Saéz I, Arnabat J, Bowen A. et. al. PROTOCOLO DE LÁSER EN ODONTOLOGÍA CONSERVADORA. Consejo dentistas España. [Internet]; 2018. Available from: https://www.esproden.com/wp-content/uploads/Protocolo_Laser_en-odontolog%C3%ADa-Consejo-de-dentistas.pdf
17. Al-Maliky MA, Frentzen M, Meister J. Laser-assisted prevention of enamel caries: a 10-year review of the literature. Lasers Med Sci [Internet]. 2019;35(1):13–30. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10103-019-02859-5
18. Liaqat S, Qayyum H, Rafaqat Z, Qadir A, Fayyaz S, Khan A, et al. Laser as an innovative tool, its implications and advances in dentistry: A systematic review. SSRN Electron J [Internet]. 2022; Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4158455
19. Arnabat J. Láser en Odontología Conservadora (8). Dental Tribune. [Internet]. 2022. Available from: https://la.dental-tribune.com/news/laser-en-odontologia-conservadora/
20. Korkut E, Gezgin O, Özer H, Şener Y. Evaluation of Er:YAG lasers on pain perception in pediatric patients during caries removal: a split-mouth study. Acta Odontol Turc [Internet]. 2017; Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.17214/gaziaot.296473
21. Sarmadi R, Andersson EV, Lingström P, Gabre P. A randomized controlled trial comparing Er:YAG laser and rotary bur in the excavation of caries - patients’ experiences and the quality of composite restoration. Open Dent J [Internet]. 2018;12(1):443–54. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5997848/
22. Maheshwari S, Jaan A, Vyaasini CVS, Yousuf A, Arora G, Chowdhury C. Laser and its Implications in Dentistry : A Review Article. J Curr Med Res Opin [Internet]. 2020;3(08). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.15520/jcmro.v3i08.323
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Miryan Margarita Grijalva Palacios, Nathalie Stefy Ponce Reyes, Ernesto David Suárez Vallejos, Mayerli Massiel Rojas Salgado (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Unless otherwise stated, associated published material is distributed under the same licence.
