Dentistry for the 21st century? Erbium:YAG laser for teeth

The first dental laser for use in cutting human teeth in vivo was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for marketing in the United States. The authors explored, in summary form, the data provided to the FDA for the clinical use of the erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet, or Er:YAG, laser. The authors concluded that using the Er:YAG laser to treat dental hard tissue is both safe and effective for caries removal, cavity preparation and enamel etching.