Dental laser apparatus and method for treating tooth decay

• US 5,456,603 A
• Filed: 11/01/1993
• Issued: 10/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medical Laser Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Laser Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Myers, Michael J., Kowalyk, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Application Number:
  US08/143,783
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 433/29, 433/215, 433/216, 433/229, 606/2, 606/3, 606/10, 606/13, 606/15, 606/16, 606/20
• US Class Current: 433/215
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22085 light-absorbing A61B2017/22087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2025 with a pilot laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0046 Dental lasers surgical lasers A61B18/20; working by laser beam in general B23K26/00; lasers per se H01S3/00

Abstract

A dental laser apparatus and method is disclosed for removing tooth decay. A substance which selectively attaches to tooth decay is applied to the tooth. This substance has a predetermined absorption band. A laser having an output wavelength which corresponds to the absorption band is supplied and is absorbed primarily by the decayed portions of the tooth. The use of Acid Red 52 dye or basic fuchsin as the substance and a frequency doubled Nd:YAG, Argon or other laser as the source is disclosed as one embodiment.

Claims

1. A dental laser system for removing tooth decay from a tooth, said system comprising:

laser means for producing a laser output having a predetermined wavelength;

a substance having an absorption band which includes said predetermined wavelength and which selectively attaches to substantially only decayed portions of said tooth;

means for applying said substance to said tooth; and

means for supplying said laser output to said tooth whereby said laser output is absorbed substantially by said substance to remove said portion of said tooth decay.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined wavelength is approximately within the range of 377-540 mn and said substance has an absorption band including 377-540 nm.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said substance has an absorption peak approximately within the range of 377-540 nm.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said laser output is a frequency doubled Nd:

YAG output and said substance has a absorption band including 377-540 nm.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said substance has an absorption peak approximately within the range of 377-540 mn.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said substance is basic fuchsin and said predetermined wavelength is approximately 532 nm.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said substance is Acid Red 52 and said laser output is the output of a frequency doubled Nd:

YAG laser.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said substance comprises a red dye.

9. A method of treating a tooth having tooth decay, said method comprising the steps of:

a. applying a predetermined substance to at least a portion of said tooth, wherein said substance attaches substantially only to decayed portions of said tooth and has a selected wavelength absorption property;

b. subjecting said substance to a laser output having a wavelength selected to correspond to said wavelength absorption property of said substance to destroy at least a portion of said tooth decay; and

c. repeating steps a-b until substantially all of the tooth decay is removed.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of applying a predetermined substance comprises applying to said tooth a dye which selectively attaches to tooth decay.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to a frequency doubled Nd:

YAG laser output.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to a laser output approximately within the range of 377-540 nm.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to a frequency doubled Nd:

YAG laser output.

14. The method of claim 9 whereto said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to a laser output approximately within the range of 377-540 nm.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said substance has a wavelength absorption band and said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to a laser output which has a wavelength within said wavelength absorption band.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said wavelength absorption band comprises an absorption peak and said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to a laser output which has a wavelength which substantially corresponds to said absorption peak.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of applying a substance comprises applying a dye which selectively attaches to tooth decay and which has a wavelength absorption band approximately in the range of 377-540 nm, and said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said dye to a laser output having a wavelength approximately within the range of 377-540 nm.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of applying a substance comprises applying basic fuchsin which selectively attaches to tooth decay and which has a wavelength absorption band which includes 377-540 mn, and said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said basic fuchsin to a laser output having a wavelength approximately within the range of 377-540 nm.

19. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of applying a substance comprises applying a dye which selectively attaches to tooth decay and which has a wavelength absorption peak approximately within the range of 377-540 nm, and said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said dye to a laser output having a wavelength approximately within the range of 377-540 nm.

20. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to a frequency doubled Nd:

YAG laser output.

21. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to an Argon laser output.

22. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to a laser output approximately within the range of 377-540 nm.

23. A method of treating a tooth having tooth decay, said method comprising the steps of:

a. applying a predetermined substance to at least a portion of said tooth, said substance having a selected wavelength absorption property;

b. subjecting said substance to a laser output having a wavelength selected to correspond to said wavelength absorption property of said substance to destroy at least a portion of said tooth decay; and

c. repeating steps a-b until substantially all of the tooth decay is removed;

wherein said step of applying a predetermined substance comprises applying to said tooth basic fuchsin.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to a frequency doubled Nd:

YAG laser output.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to an Argon laser output.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to a laser output approximately within the range of 377-540 nm.

27. A method of treating a tooth having tooth decay, said method comprising the steps of:

a. applying a predetermined substance to at least a portion of said tooth, said substance having a selected wavelength absorption property;

b. subjecting said substance to a laser output having a wavelength selected to correspond to said wavelength absorption property of said substance to destroy at least a portion of said tooth decay; and

c. repeating steps a-b until substantially all of the tooth decay is removed;

wherein said step of applying a predetermined substance comprises applying to said tooth basic fuchsin in solution with propylene glycol.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to a frequency doubled Nd:

YAG laser output.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to an Argon laser output.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein said step of subjecting said substance to a laser output comprises subjecting said substance to a laser output approximately within the range of 377-540 mn.

31. A dental laser system for removing tooth decay from a tooth, said apparatus comprising:

laser means for producing a laser output having a predetermined wavelength;

a substance which when applied to said tooth selectively attaches to substantially only decayed portions of said tooth;

means for applying said substance to said tooth, wherein said substance has an absorption band which includes said predetermined wavelength; and

means for supplying said laser output to said tooth whereby said laser output is absorbed substantially by said substance to remove said decayed portions of said tooth;

wherein said substance is basic fuchsin and said predetermined wavelength is approximately 532 nm.

32. A dental laser system for removing tooth decay from a tooth, said apparatus comprising:

laser means for producing a laser output having a predetermined wavelength;

a substance which when applied to said tooth selectively attaches to substantially only decayed portions of said tooth;

means for applying said substance to said tooth, wherein said substance has an absorption band which includes said predetermined wavelength; and

means for supplying said laser output to said tooth whereby said laser output is absorbed substantially by said substance to remove said decayed portions of said tooth;

wherein said substance is Acid Red 52 and said laser output is the output of a frequency doubled Nd;

YAG laser.

33. A method of treating a tooth having tooth decay, said method comprising the steps of:

a. applying a predetermined substance which attaches substantially only to decayed portions of said tooth, said substance having a selected wavelength absorption property;

b. subjecting said substance to a laser output having a wavelength selected to correspond to said wavelength absorption property of said substance to destroy at least a portion of said tooth decay; and

c. repeating steps a-b until substantially all of the tooth decay is removed.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said substance comprises a red dye.