Pulsed Laser Ablation of Dental Calculus in the Near-Ultraviolet

LLE Review, Volume 134 136 Introduction Selective removal of subgingival dental calculus is a preferred treatment method in nonsurgical periodontal therapy. While complete removal of calculus and disease-causing agents (i.e., oral bacteria) is of primary importance, leaving behind a hard tissue surface less prone to bacterial accumulation is also important. Grooves and craters resulting from conventional cleaning measures provide sites for future bacteria and calculus crystals to accumulate.1 Healthy cementum should be preserved since attachments, via periodontal ligaments, from either the gingiva or alveolar bone with root dentin are not as strong as with root cementum.2,3 A weak connection could lead to subsequent reoccurrence of periodontal problems.