A laser beam treatment system that delivers laser beam pulses to a dental treatment area according to a particular pattern is described. In various instances, the spacing of the pattern (e.g., locations at which pulses are delivered and the distances therebetween) and/or the timing of the pattern (e.g., amount of time between the delivery of pulses to a first location and a later location that abuts the first location) can have a demonstrable effect on ablation performance. The effects can include, for example: improved ablation efficiency, improved surface smoothness, improved material removal rate, and/or the absence of melt, carbonization or other negative surface features.

Embodiments of the invention include a handpiece system including a detachable cable that can receive at least power, and a detachable cable connector, where the detachable cable connector and detachable cable are reversibly attachable to each other. In some embodiments, the system includes an interchangeable laser module, where the laser module and detachable cable connector are reversibly attachable to each other. Further, the interchangeable laser module is configured and arranged to receive at least the power via the cable connector when coupled to the cable connector, and to be removed from the detachable cable connector and replaced with another laser module. In some embodiments, the system further includes an interchangeable handpiece which is reversibly attachable to the interchangeable laser module. Further, the interchangeable handpiece is configured and arranged to be removed from the interchangeable laser module and replaced with another interchangeable handpiece.

Disclosed are laser guides for guiding a handheld laser during intra-oral photobiomodulation. The guides include a hollow end cap detachably secured over an end of the laser hand piece, with an opening larger than the laser spot size exiting the handpiece. A hollow conical frustum extends from the end cap and has a lower opening with a diameter sufficiently large so that the guide does not interfere with the laser. A lower base of the frustum may rest on a patient's tissue so as to maintain a predetermined separation distance between the laser exiting the hand piece and the patient's tissue.

Methods and systems for modifying tissue use a pressurized fluid stream carrying coherent light energy. The methods and systems may be used for resecting and debulking soft and hard biological tissues. The coherent light is focused within a stream of fluid to deliver energy to the tissue to be treated.

The present disclosure relates to a patient anxiety management system for managing patient anxiety during a dental procedure. In one example, a patient anxiety management system is presented. The patient anxiety management system includes a control module that a patient can use to disactivate a medical device used by a dental professional by way of a trigger mechanism. Upon deactivating the medical device, a recording device, in communication with the control module, plays a recorded message to the patient during a programmable timeframe. Once the patient is calm, the system resets the medical device to an initial operation state by reconnecting but not reactivating the medical device so that the dental professional may resume the procedure when it is safe to proceed.

In an apparatus for directing a laser beam to a dental treatment area, where the apparatus includes a hand piece having an optical subsystem including a turning mirror for directing a laser beam to a treatment area via an orifice of the hand piece, a fluid supply subsystem creates a fluid flow within the hand piece proximate the turning mirror so as to mitigate contamination thereof.

A measurement system comprises a pulsed laser diode array that includes one or more Bragg reflectors, and wherein the light generated by the array penetrates tissue comprising skin. At least some of the wavelengths of light are in the near infrared. The detection system is synchronized to the laser diode array and comprises an infrared camera and a first receiver comprising a plurality of detectors. The first receiver comprises one or more detector arrays and performs a time-of-flight measurement. The measurement system generates an image, the detection system non-invasively measures blood in blood vessels within or below a dermis layer within the skin based at least in part on near-infrared diffuse reflection from the skin, and the detection system measures absorption of hemoglobin between 700 and 1300 nanometers wavelength range. A processor compares the absorption of hemoglobin between different tissue spatial locations, and the measurement system processes the time-of-flight measurement.

A digital control laser automatic tooth preparation method and device and a tooth positioner are provided. The device includes an intra-oral three-dimensional scanner, a dental laser, an oral working end of a digital control laser tooth preparation control system, an oral and maxillofacial cone beam CT scanner, a computer, a tooth positioner, a negative-pressure suction device and a real-time monitoring device. The computer is connected respectively with the intra-oral three-dimensional scanner, the dental laser, the oral working end of the digital control laser tooth preparation control system, the oral and maxillofacial cone beam CT scanner, the negative-pressure suction device, and the real-time monitoring device. The dental laser is connected with the oral working end of the digital control laser tooth preparation control system through a light guiding arm (1). The oral working end of the digital control laser tooth preparation control system is connected with the tooth positioner and the real-time monitoring device. The negative-pressure suction device is connected with the tooth positioner. The digital control laser automatic tooth preparation method and device according to embodiments of the present invention can replace part of manual operations of a doctor, uses a laser to replace a conventional mechanical grinding instrument, and can effectively improve the standard level and efficiency of clinical oral tooth preparation.

An apparatus for treating a tooth or gum tissue is disclosed. The apparatus can include a tooth cap for supporting a treatment device during a treatment procedure. The tooth cap can comprise a platform to support the treatment device. The platform can include an access port to provide a portion of the treatment device with access to a treatment region of the tooth or gum tissue. The tooth cap can also include a wall coupled with and angled relative to the platform, the wall configured to be attached to the tooth or gum tissue during treatment.

This disclosure relates to various systems and methods related to preventative laser-based treatment of a dental tissue; for example, to prevent a patient from forming cavities. In some instances, a laser-based treatment system can generate a laser beam pulse with a fluence profile at a treatment site that results in either an increase in acid resistance of the tissue or removal of carbonate from the tissue, without melting or ablating the tissue. In some instances, the laser-based treatment system can direct the laser beam to various locations within a treatment site according to a temporal and/or spatial pattern, that results in either an increase in acid resistance of the tissue or removal of carbonate from the tissue, without melting or ablating the tissue. Many other systems and techniques for preventative and other laser-based treatment are also described.