Soft Tissue Laser Dentistry for the Pediatric Population

Friday, December 3 & Saturday, December 4, 2021 | 9:00am – 5:00pm, both days | This is an in-person hands-on course. Limited attendance.

This course is sold out—please email gsdmce@bu.edu to be added to the waitlist 

Sponsored by LightScapel.

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Instructor
Athanasios Zavras, DDS, MS, DrMedSc
Martin Kaplan, DMD
Cathy Watson-Genna, BSc, IBCLC
Peter Vitruk, PhD

Overview

Laser technology now allows for a range of safe and effective procedures, to better serve our young patients. This course will provide fundamental knowledge that will enhance your understanding of the issues of pediatric laser dentistry. It will provide detailed instruction of how a laser can be used safely and effectively to perform gingivectomies, frenectomies, operculectomies, surgical exposures of impacted teeth and more. Special emphasis will be placed on infant tongue-tie and lip-tie releases since as many as 5-percent of newborns in the US have tongue-ties significant enough to cause breastfeeding difficulties. 

A good surgical laser for cutting soft tissue must be able to vaporize soft tissue, while at the same time efficiently coagulating surgical margins. Not all laser wavelengths are suitable to comply with both requirements. This course focuses on the practical aspects of soft tissue laser surgery and on the fundamental processes involved in the laser-tissue interaction; it helps attendees learn how deep the laser beam cuts and how deep the coagulation and hemostasis extend into the surgical margins. Our hands-on participation lab is designed to train attendees on how to perform laser frenectomies safely and efficiently.

Curriculum will include the following:

• Learn the scientific basis of how lasers work in Dentistry along with the tissue-energy interface
• Explore different types of dental lasers and understand their indication and clinical utility, as well as advantages and disadvantages
• Learn the detailed physics of soft tissue ablation and coagulation with laser and hot tip (non-laser) devices
• Review the latest scientific literature on soft tissue laser use in Dentistry
• Understand issues of safety and efficacy as well as relevant regulations
• Learn how to document consent, diagnosis and the efficacy of the laser 
• Explore current methods of clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue problems
• Practice laser soft tissue surgeries including frenectomy simulations on tissue samples (pig jaws) during the laser wetlab 

Course Objectives

• Understand infant sucking physiology and how tongue ties impair infant suck
• Use reliable diagnostic criteria to screen babies and children for this condition
• Understand orthodontic-myofunctional connection
• Understand how the soft tissues of the orofacial complex may lead to malocclusion, TMD, headaches, and other problems
• Discuss multiple cases that involve the use of lasers to perform gingivectomies, operculectomies, exposures of impacted teeth
• Understand all consequences and benefits of using lasers to remove oral tissues when needed

Teaching Method: Lecture and Participation

Recommended for: General Dentists, Specialists

Additional Information: Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Parking is available at a discounted rate.

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