Odyssey Laser - How It Works

The Odyssey Diode Laser is dentistry's most user-friendly soft-tissue laser to date. With a simplified control panel, the Odyssey Diode Laser features the latest and finest solid state diode laser technology, accurate power output and a consistent wavelength for smooth, precise, clean tissue modification.

The term laser stands for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation", which means a device that produces and amplifies light. The wavelength of the light produced will determine what types of tissues can be modified by the light's energy. Light waves that emanate from within the visible and near-infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum will be readily absorbed into body pigments like melanin in the skin, and heme found within hemoglobin in blood. They will have virtually no affinity for water and thus, it won't be absorbed at the surface as it enters soft tissues. Wave lengths located within the mid to far infrared range are attracted to water and the Hydroxyapatite crystals that are found within bone and teeth. Thus, these wave lengths are primarily used in hard tissue lasers. With a frequency of 810+/-20 nanometers, the Odyssey Diode Laser's wave length falls into the lower end of the near-infrared spectrum, making it suitable for soft-tissue applications.

Laser light can be emitted in either a continuous or pulsed temporal mode and the Odyssey Diode Laser is designed to deliver both. Lasers require a power supply and an active medium in order to produce light. Dental lasers employee different active mediums such as the man made rods found in the YAG lasers, liquids, gases or solid state semi-conductor crystals like those found in diodes. The Odyssey Diode Laser features an Aluminum, Gallium and Arsenide semiconductor crystal that is activated or "pumped" when an electrical current is passed through it, and it then produces an elliptical shaped display of monochromatic light. This light is then focused into a very small thread of light and directed into a fiber-optic which carries it to the target tissue. The resultant photo-thermal reaction results in vaporization at the cellular level.

The laser creates an intense beam of light energy that moves through a fiber optic cord. When it enters the targeted tissue, the energy is converted into heat as a result of the tissue's pigmentation. A photo-thermal reaction occurs that results in a much localized thermal effect causing vaporization (or ablation) of this targeted tissue, with "very little collateral tissue damage".

When using the Odyssey Diode Laser, dentists or hygienists can change the mode of the laser (either pulsed or continuous wave), the power in Watts, and the current status -- such as ready or stand-by.

In the continuous mode, the laser energy is on continuously while the laser is activated. In this mode, the laser is faster and more efficient when used by experienced laser dentists. In the pulsed mode, the energy flow is interrupted by an electrical or mechanical shutter system. The pulsed mode is less aggressive and allows some tissue cooling between pulses. Selection of the mode used is up to the discretion of the operator, but care must be taken when moving from the pulsed mode with higher set powers to a continuous wave mode. Operators must adjust the power downward when switching to the continuous wave mode.

The power of lasers is described in Watts which is the rate of doing work. One Watt is equal to 1 Joule per second, and higher powers work faster. When the Odyssey Diode Laser is used in the continuous wave mode, the average power will be what the operator selects on the control panel. When used in pulsed mode, the pulse duration and number of pulses per second on the Odyssey have been fixed at the factory, so neither can be adjusted by the operator. The average power will be of the set power since the laser is only emitting energy half the time when in the pulsed mode.

The primary use of a soft-tissue laser is the modification or removal of intra-oral soft tissue. The photo-thermal effects of the laser's energy allow the operator to modify tissues and control hemostasis at the same time by coagulation. The post-operative response of the laser care will usually produce a cleaner and healthier surgical site with less discomfort when compared to alternative methods of surgery. Soft tissue lasers enable minor surgical procedures and decontaminate the area at the same time. There is less chance of infection, and some soft tissue procedures around the gingiva can be completed without anesthesia.

The laser also promotes healing for infected and irritated tissues. Since there is a favorable response to laser treatment, the resultant healing is less complicated and often shorter when compared to traditional techniques. In many cases, the laser can also be used to treat deep gingival pockets that harbor bacteria and cause gum disease. An additional benefit of dental diode laser technology is its ability to reduce the pain and longevity of cold sores and fever blisters.

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