Prof. Steven Parker  BDS (U.Lond), LDS RCS (Eng), MCGDent, PhD. 

• Steven Parker is Honorary Professor in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester. He has been involved with lasers in dentistry for over 30 years.
• He serves as associate-editor of Lasers in Medical Science.
• He is co-director of the Dental Laser Training Academy, UK
• He has received publication in over 75 peer-reviewed papers on the use of lasers in dentistry.
• From 2010 – 2020 he worked as Contract Professor (Professore a Contratto), Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics at the University of Genoa, Italy and was International Coordinator and Lead Faculty of the Academic Master Degree (AMD) degree (Livello II) programme in laser dentistry at the University.
• He served as President of the Academy of Laser Dentistry in 2005-6.
• He is co-Editor-in-Chief and co-author of the 2017 Springer textbook “Lasers in Dentistry – Current Concepts”, currently under revision as 2^nd Edition, 2023.
• Steven recently completed his PhD in laser photonics at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK.

Laser Photonic Energy Delivery in Clinical Dentistry: Scrutiny of Parameter Variables

Through evidence-based research and peer-reviewed publication, it is acknowledged that photobiomodulation (PBM) constitutes a significant beneficial contribution to laser-adjunctive therapy. Both ablative (surgical) and sub-ablative photonic irradiation of a chosen coherent wavelength delivers PBM effects, through photochemical, photothermal or photobiological gradients, subject to the nature and concentration of the applied irradiance.

The presentation reviews the various photonic gradients of applied laser radiation with extrapolation to the concepts of applied dose to address post-therapy healing and analgesic benefits, relative to the site and anatomical position of target pathology or wound.

With reference to laser delivery applicator size, guidance is offered to assist in the computation of applicable photonic dose in the adjunctive treatment of clinical surgical and benign pathological conditions.

On-line: Practical Aspects of PBM Delivery in Clinical Dentistry

Through evidence-based research and peer-reviewed publication, it is acknowledged that photobiomodulation (PBM) constitutes a significant beneficial contribution to laser-adjunctive therapy. Both ablative (surgical) and sub-ablative photonic irradiation of a chosen coherent wavelength delivers PBM effects, through photochemical, photothermal or photobiological gradients, subject to the nature and concentration of the applied irradiance.

The presentation reviews the various photonic gradients of applied laser radiation with extrapolation to the concepts of applied dose to address post-therapy healing and analgesic benefits, relative to the site and anatomical position of target pathology or wound.

With reference to laser delivery applicator size, guidance is offered to assist in the computation of applicable photonic dose in the adjunctive treatment of clinical surgical and benign pathological conditions.

On-line: An exploration of laser-induced uneventful healing after laser soft tissue surgery with short and long wavelengths, outside the PBM optical window (650 – 1350nm)

The range of laser wavelengths, as represented by the extent and range of the so-called “optical window” fails to recognise the use in clinical dentistry of laser wavelengths between 400nm and 600 nm, or those of wavelengths longer than 1350 nm. Specifically, these include diode lasers (405 – 532 nm) and Erbium Chromium YSGG (2780 nm), Erbium YAG (2940 nm) and CO2 (9,300 or 10,600 nm).

What remains a compelling benefit of these lasers (as also suggested for those operating within the optical window) in surgical treatment or intervention of oral soft tissue, is the nature of what has been described as “uneventful” healing; the reduction in peri- and post-operative pain, coupled with the apparent suppression of inflammatory changes, has endorsed both anecdotal and published data to suggest such beneficial post-operative conditions.  The evidence of such benefits confounds a belief that they are not attributable to photo-biomodulation, in that photonic energy may be excessive at short wavelengths and ineffective at longer wavelengths. The presenter has coined the acronym “Q-PBM”, i.e. Quasi-PBM, to respect the published data, but also to question exactly the mechanism by which laser-mediated soft tissue surgery can deliver the benefits outlined above. Additionally, the use of these shorter and longer wavelengths in providing sub-ablative, non-surgical therapies, raises questions regarding biomodulation that fall outside the “classical” well-known mitochondrial effects.