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LASERS
LASERSRecently high intensity light (lasers) has been developed for use in the dental field. Dental lasers allow for an easier and cleaner way to cut soft tissue and recently have been improved to enable the dentist to cut hard tissue (enamel) as well. The lasers used in dentistry come in three different variations. The greatest difference is in the laser beam and the depth of cut and temperature at the surface of the cut being made by the laser. The two most common types of soft tissue lasers are the CO2 laser and the YAG laser. The CO2 cuts more on the surface and does not raise the temperature very high on the surface to be treated which allows the tissue a better response to healing. The YAG laser will cut deeper and at a higher temperature so it can overheat some of the underlying structures below the tissue surface. The third type of laser is the newly developed laser for cutting hard tissue (enamel) called the erbium laser. An attribute of the erbium laser is that it does not overheat the tooth so that the tooth pulp (nerve) will not die. The erbium laser is currently being utilized in a small number of dental practices in the United States but may be more generally available in the near future. RELATED TERMS-------------------------------------- Lasers Recently high intensity light (lasers) has been developed for use in the dental field. Dental lasers allow for an easier and cleaner way to cut soft tissue and recently have been improved to enable the dentist to cut hard tissue (enamel) as well. The lasers used in dentistry come in three different variations. The greatest difference is in the laser beam and the depth of cut and temperature at the surface of the cut being made by the laser. The two most common types of soft tissue lasers are the CO2 laser and the YAG laser. The CO2 cuts more on the surface and does not raise the temperature very high on the surface to be treated which allows the tissue a better response to healing. The YAG laser will cut deeper and at a higher temperature so it can overheat some of the underlying structures below the tissue surface. The third type of laser is the newly developed laser for cutting hard tissue (enamel) called the erbium laser. An attribute of the erbium laser is that it does not overheat the tooth so that the tooth pulp (nerve) will not die. The erbium laser is currently being utilized in a small number of dental practices in the United States but may be more generally available in the near future. Tissue Biological tissue is a group of cells that perform a similar function.The study of tissues is known as histology, or, in connection with disease, histopathology.The classical tools for studying the tissues are the wax block, the tissue stain, and the optical microscope, though developments in electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and frozen sections have all added to the sum of knowledge in the last couple of decades. Dentist A medical doctor in the field of dentistry and stomatology, taking care of teeth and dental health. Laser An acronym of light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. A surgical tool that creates intense heat and power when focused at close range, destroying cells by vaporizing them. Cuts Severed skin. Washing a cut or scrape with soap and water and keeping it clean and dry is all that is required to care for most wounds. Putting alcohol hydrogen peroxide, and iodine into a wound can delay healing and should be avoided. Seek medical care early if you think that you might need stitches. Any delay can increase the rate of wound infection. Any puncture wound through tennis shoes has a high risk of infection and should be seen by your healthcare professional. Any redness, swelling, increased pain, or pus draining from the wound may indicate an infection that requires professional care. Pulp The nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue inside a tooth. SIMILAR TERMS-------------------------------------- Lasegue sign Pain in the back of the leg on flexing a patient's hip and knee and then extending the knee while the hip is flexed. Results from dural irritation, usually by a prolapsed disc. Laser An acronym of light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. A surgical tool that creates intense heat and power when focused at close range, destroying cells by vaporizing them. Laser Center The Laser Center is a hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States. Laser Treatment Using a special strong beam of light of one color (laser) to heal a damaged area. A person with diabetes might be treated with a laser beam to heal blood vessels in the eye. PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS-------------------------------------- Limited Joint Mobility A form of arthritis involving the hand; it causes the fingers to curve inward and the skin on the palm to tighten and thicken. This condition mainly affects people with IDDM. Lipoatrophy Small depressions in the subcutaneous tissues just under the skin that form when a person keeps injecting insulin into the same spot. Injecting around the depressed area can very slowly fill in the depression (over a period of many months). Lipodystrophy Lumps (lipohypertrophy) or depressions (lipoatrophy) below the surface of the skin that form when a person keeps injecting insulin into the same spot. Both forms of lipodystrophies are harmless. People can decrease this problem by changing (rotating) the places where they inject their insulin. Using purified insulins may also help. Lipohypertrophy Bulging of an area of the skin (due to fat accumulation) that forms when a person keeps injecting insulin into the same spot. Continued injection into these lumpy areas delays the absorption of insulin, and is not recommended even though injecting into the lumpy area is painless (as there are no nerve endings in the lump). Lispro Insulin Lispro insulin is an insulin analog in which the position of two amino acids are switched. The resulting lispro insulin does not form hexamers (clumps of six molecules linked together) and is thus faster acting than regular insulin. It can be injected immediately before a meal, compared with regular which should be injected 30 minutes or more before a meal. LASERS Lead Extraction A lead is a special wire that delivers energy from a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to the heart muscle.A lead extraction is the removal of one or more leads from inside the heart. Leads that are placed outside the heart during open heart surgery cannot be removed during this type of procedure. Leaflets Thin pieces of tissue or flaps that make up a valve. Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) In patients with end-stage heart disease whose hearts do not pump a sufficient amount of blood to keep the body healthy, it is possible to place a mechanical device that aids in the pumping function of the blood. This device is known as a left ventricular assist device. There are many devices available for implantation. Legal Guardian A person charged (usually by court appointment) with the power and duty of taking care of and managing the property and rights of another person who is unable to take care of their own affairs. Leukocyte (white blood cell) Cells in the blood that seeks and destroys disease-causing microorganisms. We thank you for using the Medical Glossary to search for LASERS. If you have a better definition for LASERS than the one presented here, please let us know by making use of the suggest a term option. This definition of LASERS may be disputed by other professionals. Our attempt is to provide easy definitions on LASERS and any other medical topic for the public at large.
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