Abstract: A dual wavelength laser is disclosed for use in dental therapeutic applications. The dual wavelength laser includes a laser cavity in which a laser crystal is disposed and preferably the laser crystal is an Nd:YAG laser, which, upon excitation, lases at two different wavelengths, each of which has a different gain. A shutter, or alternatively an optical filter, is selectively disposed within the optical path of the laser crystal whereupon the higher gain wavelength is selectively suppressed. Thus, with the shutter or optical filter removed from the optical path, the laser lases at its higher gain wavelength. Conversely, with the shutter or filter positioned within the optical path, the higher gain wavelength is effectively suppressed so that the laser crystal lases at the lower gain wavelength.

Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anestesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser in contained.

Abstract: A dental laser system is disclosed having an erbium doped YAG laser which is excited so that the YAG laser produces a plurality of laser pulses. A novel delivery system for the YAG laser is disclosed which includes an elongated sapphire strand which consists of a single crystal. The sapphire strand has a diameter between 10 and 1000 microns so that it maintains its flexibility and the sapphire strand is encased within a flexible protective coating. The sapphire strand is also essentially devoid of water content.

Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained.

Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained.

Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained.

Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained.

Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained.

Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or camentum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained.

Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained. The laser is excited so that the laser emits a laser beam along a predetermined axis that is in line with a fiber optic delivery system and at a pulse rate of one to 10,000 pulses per second and an average power variable from zero to 50 watts. A handpiece is dimensioned to be inserted into a human mouth while an optical fiber optically connects the laser output to the handpiece. The laser assembly also includes a continuous output aiming laser which, upon activation, provides a continuous laser aiming beam coaxial to the treatment beam. Both beams are then introduced into a fiber optic delivery system.

Abstract: A fluorophotometer for determining the concentration of a fluorescent material in an eye, including a light source producing a beam of light traversing a path in the eye to excite the material to emit fluorescence, optics for imaging the path and fluorescence at a detecting plane, a linear photodiode array at the detecting plane for detecting the fluorescence along the path, and a microprocessor for collecting data from the array and producing information of the concentration of the fluorescent material.