HYGIENE HOTSPOT What It Takes to Be a Laser Hygienist

By: Angie Wallace, RDH

With all of the technological advancements in our world of dental hygiene, lasers are here to stay; they are truly changing the way dental professionals practice. We now see patients seeking out what lasers can do for them, as well as researchers and clinicians who continue to place the highest value on their capabilities. In addition, more and more “everyday” clinicians are looking to see how lasers can increase their practice efficiency and profitability.

To get the most out of what lasers can do for your practice as a hygienist, the best place to start is education. Hygienists interested in laser technology should start by doing their homework. Familiarize yourself by reading industry publications about lasers, take a few online classes, and attend some classes. Compare laser manufacturers and their offerings to discover which laser will work best for you. When you are ready, take the next step and consider attending a Laser Certification course offered by a laser educator. Consider the one offered by The Academy of Laser Dentistry (www. laserdentistry.org). ALD is the only unbiased laser organization, which means that they work with all levels of laser users on all different lasers. ALD laser educators provide laser courses throughout the United States and internationally, and a few of the educators can even provide laser education right in your office.

There are things you should carefully consider before using a laser on your patients: What do I want to use it for? Which laser should I use? What training or certification should I have before I use a laser?

Let us examine these questions: As curettage is no longer an accepted procedure with the American Academy of Periodontology, lasers cannot be used by hygienists to cut tissue, just like we cannot use any other dental tool to cut tissue.

Depending on your state, common procedures that can be performed with lasers by hygienists are bacterial reduction, sulcular debridement, and bacterial decontamination. When performed with lasers, these procedures allow the tissue a chance to heal and new attachments to form, making the pocket easier to maintain. Moreover, laser therapy in general is antimicrobial and decreases virulent red-complex bacteria, which can invade soft tissue and enter blood vessels, affecting overall health.

Other hygiene uses for the laser include the treatment of herpetic lesions or aphthous ulcers. These procedures are great practice builders, as patients are typically very pleased with results. As there are few over-the-counter treatments for herpetic lesions, lasers allow us to eliminate the pain from lesions, healing is significantly faster, and using a laser decreases the odds of lesions reoccurring in the same area. Lasers can provide superior results in the following procedures:

1) Laser Bacterial Reduction (LBR): We can eliminate bacteria at any hygiene appointment before completing hygiene procedures. LBR is the practice of administering low-power laser energy within the sulcus throughout the entire dentition. This helps reduce bacteremia, cross-contamination, and bacterial load which in turn, helps prevent attachment loss.

2) Laser Assisted Periodontal Therapy (LAPT): Used for active periodontal therapy (SRP with laser decontamination) and in conjunction with traditional deep scaling appointments, LAPT is the practice of administering laser energy within the periodontal pocket for profound decontamination. LAPT also results in increased tissue interaction by removing inflammatory factors, significantly reducing bacteria within the pocket, and consequently promoting growth factors for healing with the ultimate goal of tissue rehabilitation.

3) Desensitizing of tooth structure: Laser energy can be used to eliminate sensitivity on the tooth structure.

4) Laser whitening: Laser technology is applied to activate bleaching solution to whiten teeth.

5) Photobiomodulation (PBM): Lasers are used for wound healing and pain management.

Once you determine what your clinical goals are in using a laser in practice, there are many lasers to choose from. Much like when you purchase a vehicle, it can be one that just gets you from point A to point B, or it can have all the bells and whistles that everyone loves. Look for one that fits what you actually want to do in order to benefit your practice and patients.

The types of lasers include Er:YAG and Er:CrYSGG, Diodes, Nd:YAG, and CO₂. Each has unique characteristics, and there are several manufacturers that specialize in each type.

I hope that I have sparked an interest for in lasers. Please do not hesitate to contact me at Angie@Laserrdh.com if you have questions about the role that lasers can play in your practice.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angie Wallace, RDH has been a clinical hygienist for over 35 years. She is a member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD), where she obtained her Advanced level proficiency, her Educator Status, and received her ALD Recognized Course Provider 2007 and her Mastership with ALD in 2008. Angie currently serves as Chair for Education for the ALD Board of Directors and serves on the Auxiliary committee. She was the recipient of the 2014 John G. Sulewski, Distinguished Service Award from the Academy of Laser Dentistry and has been recognized as a worldwide speaker as a Laser Consultant for Dental and Dental Hygiene Schools, Laser Manufacturers and Private Offices. She can be reached at Angie@Laserrdh. comprogram.