A laser safety officer needs to be appointed by the clinic whose job it is to implement and

monitor safety
The Laser Safety Officer is defined as: "One who has the authority to
monitor and enforce the control of laser hazards and effect the
knowledgeable evaluation and control of laser hazards."
The ANSI Z136.1 standard indicates the following as key LSO responsibilities:
Classification.:.
Hazard Evaluation :
Control Measures.
Procedure Approvals.
Protective Equipment.:
Signs and Labels. .
Facility and Equipment .
Safety Features Audits
RISK AND
PRECAUTION
S IN
CLINICAL
USE OF
LASERS
1. Caution before and during irradiation
- Use of glasses for eye protection ( patient, operator and assistants)
- Protection of patients throat and oral tissues outside the target site.
- Accurate foot pedal control.
- Adequate high speed evacuation to capture the laser plume.
- Precautions for inadvertent irradiation and reflection from shiny metal surfaces
2. Risk of thermal injury during interaction
with the tissues
- Understanding of the penetration depth of each laser.
- Thermal injury to the root surface, gingival tissue, pulp and bone tissue.
- Effective use of water spray to minimize heat generation



3. Risk of excessive tissue destruction by
direct ablation and thermal side effects

- Excessive ablation of root surfaces and gingival tissue during pocket
irradiation
- Destruction of the attachment apparatus at the bottom of the pockets during
pocket irradiation.
- Bone and root surface alterations during gingival soft tissue surgery or pocket
irradiation.
-Damage of the tooth enamel by inadvertent irradiation
High financial cost

Lasers cant be used :
- fill cavities located between teeth

- cant be used on silver amalgam fillings, because the heat
could vaporize mercury which could be potentially
hazardous to health . So such fillings have to be removed
using a conventional high-speed drill.

- wont effectively remove old fillings

Improper irradiation of teeth and periodontal pockets by lasers
can damage the tooth and root surfaces as well as
attachment apparatus at the bottom of the pocket.

Laser beams may reach patient eyes .
DISADVANTAGES