Biomaterial Database

[Lasers in dentistry. 9. Safety in laser use]. 2003

H J C M Sterenborg

Laboratorium voor Fotodynamische Therapie en Optische Spectroscopie, Erasmus Medisch Centrum, Postbus 5201 3008 AE Rotterdam. sterenborg@kfih.azr.nl

The laser has become an effective new tool in dentistry. Besides the positive effects for which it is applied, the laser is also capable of causing damage to the patient, the user and the bystanders. In this paper the different types of laser-specific hazards are explained. The concept of the nominal hazard distance is introduced and used to analyse the practical risks and suggest safety measures to be taken.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007834	Lasers	An optical source that emits photons in a coherent beam. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) is brought about using devices that transform light of varying frequencies into a single intense, nearly nondivergent beam of monochromatic radiation. Lasers operate in the infrared, visible, ultraviolet, or X-ray regions of the spectrum.	Masers,Continuous Wave Lasers,Pulsed Lasers,Q-Switched Lasers,Continuous Wave Laser,Laser,Laser, Continuous Wave,Laser, Pulsed,Laser, Q-Switched,Lasers, Continuous Wave,Lasers, Pulsed,Lasers, Q-Switched,Maser,Pulsed Laser,Q Switched Lasers,Q-Switched Laser
D011835	Radiation Protection	Methods and practices adopted to protect against RADIATION.	Protection, Radiation
D004869	Equipment Safety	Freedom of equipment from actual or potential hazards.	Device Safety,Hazards, Equipment,Medical Device Safety,Safety, Equipment,Device Safety, Medical,Safety, Medical Device,Equipment Hazard,Equipment Hazards,Hazard, Equipment,Safety, Device
D005131	Eye Injuries	Damage or trauma inflicted to the eye by external means. The concept includes both surface injuries and intraocular injuries.	Injuries, Eye,Eye Injury,Injury, Eye
D005135	Eye Protective Devices	Personal devices for protection of the eyes from impact, flying objects, glare, liquids, or injurious radiation.	Goggles,Safety Glasses,Safety Lenses,Sun Glasses, Nonprescription,Device, Eye Protective,Devices, Eye Protective,Eye Protective Device,Glasses, Nonprescription Sun,Glasses, Safety,Lenses, Safety,Nonprescription Sun Glasses,Protective Device, Eye,Protective Devices, Eye
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012307	Risk Factors	An aspect of personal behavior or lifestyle, environmental exposure, inborn or inherited characteristic, which, based on epidemiological evidence, is known to be associated with a health-related condition considered important to prevent.	Health Correlates,Risk Factor Scores,Risk Scores,Social Risk Factors,Population at Risk,Populations at Risk,Correlates, Health,Factor, Risk,Factor, Social Risk,Factors, Social Risk,Risk Factor,Risk Factor Score,Risk Factor, Social,Risk Factors, Social,Risk Score,Score, Risk,Score, Risk Factor,Social Risk Factor
D012867	Skin	The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.