Lecture Program - DAY 1 (1st Nov) | DAY 2 (2nd Nov)
Day 1 - 1st November
8.00am Registration & Exhibition Open
8.30am Welcome - Professor Laurence Walsh
Head of the School of Dentistry – The University of Queensland
8.45am Acknowledgement of Support & Sponsor Organisations
Professor Kenji Yoshida, The General Secretary – World Federation of Laser Dentistry
9.00am The History & Development of the World Federation of Laser Dentistry
Professor Loh Hong Sai, The Chair - World Federation of Laser Dentistry, Asian Pacific Division
This organisation was inaugurated in 1988 (Tokyo, Japan) as the International Society for Laser Dentistry (ISLD). Its objective is to promote international applications and research. Presently, its individual membership comes from more than 55 countries, and has many large national laser organisations in support of its activities. It holds a congress once every 2 years, and the 5 Divisions across the continents would host their regional programs in the year between each congress. Laser certification courses are conducted, together with a MSc program in lasers conducted a group of European member countries.
9.15am Basic Concepts of Lasers in Dentistry
Associate Professor Lee Collins
Lasers are a relatively new tool in dentistry. They have the ability to be used to great effect, but also to cause unintended harm to the patient. A good understanding of how the laser functions and how laser radiation interacts with the target tissue is crucial to safe and effective laser use. The talk will cover how the laser functions, its modes of operation, basic tissue interaction mechanisms (thermal and non-thermal), and the biological effects created.
9.45am Update on Laser Safety in Dentistry
Associate Professor Lee Collins
As well as providing effective treatment, lasers can also present a hazard – especially optical – to both the staff and the patient as a result of the same interactions used for treatment. However, the level of hazard depends on a number of factors. This talk will cover laser hazards, laser classification,
eye protection, other hazards such as plume, and the requirements of the
relevant Australian/New Zealand laser safety standards.
10.15am Morning Tea
10.30am Laser Tissue Interactions – Hitting the Target
Professor Laurence Walsh
This lecture summarizes the interactions which occur between the most common laser wavelengths and specific target and tissue components, with
a view to optimizing the desirable interactions and reducing bystander effects. The lecture includes the concepts of coupling energy and of absorption curve shifting, and how these effects can improve absorption.
11.00am Laser Operative Parameters – Why More is Less
Professor Laurence Walsh
This lecture examines the concepts of ablation thresholds and how the parameters of the laser influence the speed and type of ablation effect achieved, including the collateral heating of the target. This issue is fundamental to gaining the most clinically effective ablation of hard and soft tissues. Mention will also be made of the differences between panel settings and actual laser emissions from handpieces and fibers.
11.30am Practical Demonstration – Soft Tissue Techniques and Common Procedures
12.30pm Lunch
1.00pm Practical Demonstration – Hard Tissue Techniques and Common Procedures
2.00pm Hands-on Soft Tissue Lasers
3.30pm Hands-on All Tissue Lasers
Day 2 - 2nd November
8.00am Registration
8.30am Laser Uses in Oral Surgery
Professor Kenji Yoshida
Recently the development of laser technology has been very rapid, and the interest in use of laser in medical care has grown consistently.
Two types of medical lasers are in general use: high energy lasers e.g., CO2, argon, Nd:YAG, etc.), which utilize the thermal effect for cutting or coagulation, and low energy lasers (e.g. semiconductor, He-Ne, etc.), which employ photoactivation or photochemical reactions for pain relief and promotion of wound healing.
The clinical applications of high-power lasers are tumor resection or vaporization of mucosal disease. Especially, hemostasis effect of Nd:YAG laser by contact method is useful in case of resection of hemangioma or radical neck dissection. Leukoplakia have been treated by Nd:YAG laser vaporization, but few cases were transformed into squamous cell carcinoma during follow up.
Low energy irradiation of the stellate ganglion has been successful for the treatment of neurological disorders such as paresthesia of the lower lip and mental region resulting from minor surgery or facial palsy. Also, another clinical application of low energy lasers is the treatment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Those above applications in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery are demonstrated and the indications are discussed.
9.00am Laser Uses in Endodontology – What the Future Holds
Professor Laurence Walsh
This lecture examines the latest concepts in lasers in endodontics, beginning with real-time laser fluorescence detection, and then moving to laser-induced cavitation for debridement, photo-acoustic streaming, photothermal and photo-activated disinfection. The emphasis will be on research work from the last 3 years, and how this is shaping our understanding of this field.
9.30am Laser Uses in Periodontics
Dr Wayne Martin
This lecture will demonstrate the technique of a combination of deep scaling and root planning and laser de epithialization results in better pocket reduction and ongoing improved gingival health.
10.00am Laser Uses in Periodontal Surgery
Associate Professor Hisashi Wantanabe
Periodontal disease is a process or result of battle between biofilm composed mainly of periodontopathic bacteria and the host in the oral cavity. Existence of biofilm in the periodontal pocket stands against chemotherapy and makes it null and void. It is essential for the success of periodontal therapy to remove it completely. Generally speaking, it is believed that laser use accelerates the effect of periodontal treatment more than that of the conventional mechanical one.
Periodontal therapy is divided into non-surgical and surgical therapy. In this lecture, I will focus on the application of Er:YAG laser for periodontal surgery and refer to the advantages and disadvantages of laser therapy from the both basic and clinical point of view.
Periodontal surgery is classified into Flap surgery, Regenerative therapy, Resection therapy and Periodontal Plastic Surgery. As to flap surgery, I will explain the outcome of basic research, animal experiment and clinical study concerning laser use in osseous surgery, debridement of the granulomatous tissue and making a flap. In case of regenerative therapy, I will introduce the results of study about cell attachment after the application of both laser and recombinant human PDGF-BB on diseased root surface. The topic of resection therapy is soft tissue wound healing, gingivectomy and depigmentation by laser. I will take up semi-lunar coronally repositioned flap procedure by laser as a periodontal plastic surgery, Finally, I will discuss the mechanism of wound healing by laser in comparison with the conventional therapy.
10.30am Panel & Question Time
10.45am Morning Tea
11.00am Laser Uses in Implantology & Prosthodontics
Dr Shigeyuki Nagai
Synopsis:
- Advantage of using laser in dental implantology and prosthodontics
- Disadvantage of using laser in dental implantology and prosthodontics
- Thermal effect on implant body
- Implant surface change under the different parameters
- Differences of each wavelength for using lasers in implantology and prosthodontics
11.30am Laser Uses in Orthodontics & Cosmetic Dentistry
Dr David Cox
This presentation will focus on clinical outcomes for aesthetic cases and the incorporation of these into a general dental practice with an emphasis on predictable, achievable results.
12.00pm Laser Uses in Cariology
Dr Ambrose Chan
Despite considerable advances in Dentistry over the last few decades, dental caries still remain one of the major unsolved problems throughout the entire population. Prediction of a rise in caries prevalence rates as
the population ages. Research into innovative treatment alternatives is urgently needed.
Laser technology is now ubiquitous in science, business, the arts, the military, industry, telecommunications, entertainment and medicine. It is increasingly finding a useful place in Dentistry to offer the potential for practical solutions to difficult manage clinical problems. Research into the clinical use of lasers in diagnostic, cosmetic and therapeutic dental procedures has escalated rapidly in recent years.
In this Lecture, I shall present how laser technology has revolutionised the treatment of dental caries. From assisting early caries diagnosis and treatment planning, soft tissue management, fluorescence aided caries elimination, the fluorescence feedback-controlled laser selective caries removal to caries prevention, caries reversal and tooth regeneration.
12.30pm Laser Uses in Operative Dentistry
Dr Andrew Brostek
- Understanding how Erbium dental lasers work and how they can be of benefit in operative dentistry
- Improving patient comfort in operative procedures utilising an Er:YAG laser
- Laser tooth analgesia, how and why caries removal can be done without always using local anaesthetic
- Optimal laser cutting techniques – time is money
- Discussion of new techniques in dentine caries removal – Fluorescence Assisted Caries Excavation (FACE)
1.00pm Lunch
2.00pm Laser Uses in Paedodontics
Dr Timothy Johnston
The philosophy of minimally invasive dentistry has developed on the emerging body of evidence that traditional hard and soft tissue surgery involves the excessive and sometimes traumatic loss of tissue. Laser assisted dentistry fits integrally into the MI philosophy with the provision of atraumatic tissue management. As our children grow in this increasingly technologically dependent society, the use of newer technologies including Lasers fits into their world and expectations whilst preserving tissue, compliance and trust.
2.30pm Lower Intensity Laser Therapy in the Oral & Maxillofacial Region
Associate Professor Sajee Sattayut
Low intensity laser therapy (LILT) was a laser therapy effecting on the tissue by photochemical reaction producing biomodulation; either stimulation or suppression of the cellular activity as stated in Arndt- Schultz Hypothesis. The properties of the lasers for this therapy were low water absorption, high tissue penetration and able to set for the low power (not more than 1 Watt), such as Helium Neon (620-660 nm), Gallium Aluminuium Arenide (820-830 nm) and Gallium Arsenide (904 nm) lasers. A variety of studies found that the mechanisms of LILT were increase in microcirculation, modulation of the membrane potential and alteration of the inflammatory mediators and pain substances. The clinical applications of LILT in oral and maxillofacial region were pain control and promotion of healing. The success of LILT was depended on integration of the parameters, regimes and techniques based on clinical trials together with dosage adjustment based on the individual response.
3.00pm Afternoon Tea
3.15pm Laser Dentistry: Economics
Dr Hisham Abdalla
Lasers are here to stay as an integral part of modern high tech dentistry.
Their clinical applications are numerous and depend on the wavelength of the laser and the level of training the dentist/hygienist/specialist has achieved. The economics of going high tech in dentistry have to be recognised and understood by practice owners to justify the investment.
While the clinical advantage to the patients is the main reason a professional must look at and evaluate any new technology, they will have to justifythe return on investment to their business as well. Lasers are no different to any other technology in this aspect, and they provide a rewarding experience for the patients as well as for the doctor and their business.
3.45pm The Future of Lasers in Dentistry & Beyond
Dr Igor Cernavin
This lecture will cover the current developments at the cutting edge of laser technology generally, present current trends in lasers in dentistry and attempt to crystal ball gaze into what practitioners might expect to see in the not too distant future.
4.15pm Clinical Pearl of Wisdom - Open Discussion
4.45pm Close
Professor Loh Hong Sai
The Chair - World Federation of Laser Dentistry, Asian Pacific Division