What can lasers be used for?

• A. Remove caries, composites, GI, prepare for fissure sealing
• B. Bleach crowns
• C. Remove calculus
• D. Whitening and polishing

Answer: (A)

Lasers in minimally invasive dentistry are used for selective tissue and material removal to conserve tooth structure. They can selectively remove decayed dentin and are capable of removing certain restorative materials, such as composites and glass ionomer, when replacement or refinement is needed. After removing decayed tissue or old restorations, lasers can also help prepare enamel for fissure sealing by cleaning and roughening the surface to improve sealant bonding.

Bleaching crowns isn’t a standard laser indication, and calculus removal is better done with scaling instruments. Whitening and polishing are typically achieved with conventional chemical agents and mechanical polishing, respectively, rather than lasers.