Third molar surgery – Er:Yag lasers and post-operative problems

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This review of the effectiveness of Er:YAG lasers in reducing pain, oedema and trismus compared to rotary instruments for the removal of impacted lower third molars included 6 small studies only one of which was at low risk of bias. The findings suggest a reduction in swelling and a small reduction in pain however the findings should be viewed cautiously because of the limited amount and quality of the evidence.

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Laser preparation of tooth surfaces before fissure sealant placement

Fissure sealant

This review of laser preparation compared to other types of tooth surface preparation before fissure sealant placement included 5 RCTs. While the review suggested that retention rates with laser preparation were similar to acid etching the included studies were small and at high risk of bias. Thefore the findings should be considered very cautiously.

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Scaling and root planing adjuncts for chronic periodontitis

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In 2015 the American Dental Association published a Guideline on nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis. This network meta-analysis re-analyses the included studies providing a complementary appraisal of the data.

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Lasers for caries removal: evidence insufficient to support their use

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This Cochrane review included 9 small RCTs with either a high or unclear risk of bias providing evidence that was insufficient to support the use of laser as an alternative to the drill for caries removal.

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