Adult dentistry wouldn't exist if we routinely used lasers

Richard Hansen

Root canal

So far Mr Hansen has treated nearly 600 patients needing root canal work with this method and claims he has achieved an almost 100% success rate.

He said that although the work takes longer than traditional methods, it is cheaper as it eliminates the need to carry out costly root canal work and crowns.

"I tell dentists that if they want to do things quickly, they should use a hammer and chisel."

He added that the laser treatment also caused less damage to the rest of the teeth.

He said vibrations caused by drilling for ordinary fillings could damage the nerve and cause root canal work later in life.

And that if laser treatments were used routinely early in life less work would be needed as they got older.

He said: "Adult dentistry wouldn't exist if we routinely used lasers".

The laser Mr Hansen uses emits light with a wavelength of 2,940 nanometres, which is primarily absorbed by water.

And as the decayed material has an extremely high water content Mr Hansen said that most of the laser's energy is absorbed by the infected tissue, which is then vaporised.

If needed, antibiotic paste can be inserted into the tooth through a hole made by a more powerful laser and then the tooth can be sealed.

Laser treatment

But Eddy Levin, a Harley Street dental surgeon, told the New Scientist, he was not convinced by the new treatment.

"I personally would not use lasers.

"In the first place, the equipment required is incredibly costly, which would make it very expensive for the patient.

"Also, I don't think they have been tried and tested enough, and they take too long."

A spokesman for the British Dental Association said: "The science behind using erbium lasers in root canal surgery is very credible, although due to cost it is probable that it will only be used in conjunction with more conventional tools for the foreseeable future - especially in NHS dentistry."

In terms of marketability the treatment is principally found in private dental practices. This is mainly because buying new equipment is still expensive (about �25,000).