Alveolar Bone Regeneration Using Nd:YAG Laser

The loss of alveolar bone, which is very often a consequence of long-lasting inflammation of dental tissue, usually results in loose teeth and eventually the loss of the affected teeth. Removing the causes of periodontal disease with periodontal treatment can stop further alveolar bone decay, however, the problem remains unsolved of how to fix an affected tooth that has more than half of its root loose in alveolar tissue. In this paper, the successful use of an Nd:YAG laser is reported for stimulating the growth of osteoblasts and inducing bone regeneration. Stabilization and preservation of the tooth and its functions were achieved without any surgical or other invasive medical methods. A review of laser periodontal studies shows that there exists a relatively broad range of Nd:YAG and Er:YAG laser devices, laser parameters and treatment protocols with which there is at least some degree of bone regeneration achieved whenever FDA-cleared periodontal indications are treated with Nd:YAG and/or Er:YAG lasers.