| 摘要 |
The specification discloses embodiments and other information concerning methods, systems, and apparatus in accordance with aspects of the subject invention for treating diseased root canals in teeth and other dental condition, such as periodontitis and the like wherein a laser light is pulsed from a laser fiber optic tip into liquid contained in a reservoir or other space within the canal, periodontal sulcus/pocket, or other dental space immersing the area in need of treatment so as to disintegrate, separate, or otherwise neutralize pulp, plaque, calculus, bacteria, and other microbes, thus annihilating and particleizing undesirable material within the liquid in the reservoir by the action of relatively intense, photoacoustic micro-pressure waves propagating throughout the liquid as a result of the laser light pulses emitted into the liquid from the tip, thereby enabling easy removal of the particles by finely dispersing the same in the liquid and then flushing the particle-laden liquid from the area by hydraulic swirling actions associated with the pulsing light and through ensuing antiseptic rinses, all without elevating the temperature of nearby dentin, tooth, bones, gums, and/or other soft/hard adjacent tissues more than about 5° C. so as to avoid or eliminate harmful effects of localized heating of the same. |
| 主权项 |
1. A method for treating a treatment zone including one or more teeth and tissue adjacent such tooth or teeth, the combination thereof defining a treatment pocket there between, the method comprising the steps of:
A. providing a laser system containing a source of a laser light beam and an elongate optical fiber connected to said source and configured to transmit said laser light beam to a tip thereof, B. immersing at least a portion of the tip into a fluid reservoir located in the treatment pocket, the fluid reservoir holding a first fluid; C. pulsing the laser light source at a first setting such that at least a substantial portion of any contaminants located in or adjacent the treatment pocket are destroyed or otherwise disintegrated into fragmented material in admixture in and with the first fluid, thereby forming a first fluid mixture, wherein the destruction or disintegration of a substantial portion of any contaminants located in or adjacent the treatment pocket using the laser light source is accomplished without generation of significant heat in the first fluid or associated mixture so as to avoid elevating the temperature of any gum, tooth, or other adjacent tissue more than about 5° C. |
