laser safety and its application in dentistry

1. DR AKANKSHA SINGH
SENIOR LECTURER
DEPT. OF PERIODONTOLOGY AND
ORAL IMPLANTOLOGY
ITS CDSR, GHAZIABAD
LASERS
SAFETY

2. WHAT IS LASER?
Laser is an acronym that stands for “Light Amplification By Stimulated
Emission Of Radiation".
Laser light is a form of non-ionizing radiation.
 Laser equipment produces and amplifies light that has unique properties
that cannot be produced any other way.
The light that it produces is monochromatic - it is composed of one single
color at a specific wavelength.

3. CLASSIFICATION
 Lasers have been classified by wavelength and power[ into
four classes and a few subclasses since the early 1970s.
 The classifications categorize lasers according to their
ability to produce damage in exposed people, from class 1
(no hazard during normal use) to class 4 (severe hazard for
eyes and skin).

6. Warning label for class 2 and higher

7. LASER SAFETY SIGNAGE

8. TYPES OF HAZARDS
Eye: acute exposure of the eye to lasers of certain wavelengths and power
can cause corneal or retinal burns (or both). Chronic exposure to excessive
levels may cause corneal or lenticular opacities (cataracts) or retinal injury.
Skin : acute exposure to high levels of optical radiation may cause skin
burns; while carcinogenesis may occur for ultraviolet wavelengths (290-
320 nm).
Chemical : some lasers require hazardous or toxic substances to operate
(i.e., Chemical dye, excimer lasers).
Electrical : most lasers utilize high voltages that can be lethal.
Fire : the solvents used in dye lasers are flammable. High voltage pulse or
flash lamps may cause ignition. Flammable materials may be ignited by
direct beams or specular reflections from high power continuous wave
(CW) infrared lasers.

9. LASER HAZARDS IN DENTAL PRACTICE

10. Sources of laser hazards include:
Accidental eye exposure during alignment
Misaligned laser beam
Lack of eye protection
Equipment malfunction
Improper handling of high voltage systems
Use of unfamiliar equipment
Improper restoration of equipment following service

11. OCCULAR HAZARD

12. SKIN HAZARDS
.
• Direct contact with the laser beam and specular (mirror-like)
reflections can cause skin injuries. Those injuries are typically
caused by thermal damage similar to touching the stove, or
photochemical damage like sunburns.

13. FIRE HAZARDS
• Apart from health hazards, laser light can also start fires and put
your work environment at risk.
• Only class 4 lasers pose real fire safety concerns. Their direct
beam as well as any types of reflections can ignite combustible
materials.

14. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

15. GENERAL PRECAUTIONS
• Users should never put their eyes at the level of the horizontal
plane where the beams are, in case of reflected beams that leave
the table.
• Watches and other jewelry that might enter the optical
plane, should not be allowed in the laboratory.
• All non-optical objects that are close to the optical plane
should have a matte finish in order to prevent specular
reflections.

16. PRECAUTIONS

17. PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR
 Adequate eye protection should always be required for everyone in
the room if there is a significant risk for eye injury.
 High-intensity beams that can cause fire or skin damage (mainly
from class 4 and ultraviolet lasers) and that are not frequently
modified should be guided through opaque tubes.