Er:YAG laser
(Redirected from Erbium:YAG laser)
Er:YAG laser is a specific type of laser used in medicine and dentistry. It is named after the Erbium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) crystal used as the lasing medium. The Er:YAG laser emits light at a wavelength of 2940 nm, which is in the infrared portion of the light spectrum. This wavelength is highly absorbed by water, making the Er:YAG laser well-suited for applications that require precision and minimal thermal damage.
History[edit | edit source]
The Er:YAG laser was first developed in the 1960s, but it was not until the 1990s that it began to be widely used in medical and dental procedures. The development of the Er:YAG laser was driven by the need for a laser that could provide precise ablation of tissue with minimal thermal damage.
Medical Applications[edit | edit source]
In medicine, the Er:YAG laser is used in a variety of procedures, including skin resurfacing, scar revision, and tattoo removal. The laser's high absorption by water allows it to ablate tissue with minimal heat generation, reducing the risk of thermal damage to surrounding tissues.
Dental Applications[edit | edit source]
In dentistry, the Er:YAG laser is used for procedures such as cavity preparation, root canal treatment, and periodontal therapy. The laser's ability to precisely ablate hard and soft tissues makes it an effective tool for these applications.
Advantages and Disadvantages[edit | edit source]
The main advantage of the Er:YAG laser is its precision and minimal thermal damage. However, the laser's high absorption by water can also be a disadvantage, as it limits the depth of penetration into tissue. This can make the Er:YAG laser less effective for procedures that require deep tissue ablation.
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Laser
- Erbium
- Yttrium Aluminum Garnet
- Infrared
- Skin resurfacing
- Scar revision
- Tattoo removal
- Cavity preparation
- Root canal treatment
- Periodontal therapy
Er:YAG laser Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD