LASERS IN ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

The term Laser is an acronym for light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation, which serves to explain most but not all the critical physical interactions that occur within a laser generating cavity. It is pragmatic to have a general knowledge of stimulated emission so that one can evaluate newer laser technologies and understand how lasers affect biologic tissues. This library dissertation provides the reader with a modicum of fundamental information about lasers, their basic physics, and photobiologic effects; free-beam versus contact types; safety precautions; and terminology.