Lasers and Wound Healing

The use of low-level-therapy (low intensity) lasers (soft lasers) possibly provides biostimulatory effects in the tissues (biomodulation), while the various wavelengths and features of surgical lasers (hard lasers) influence wound healing directly or indirectly. This chapter focuses on the typical changes of the tissues during wound healing and provides an overview about the wound healing processes after laser use. Wound healing after the use of a Nd:YAG laser, set at low power, appeared not only clinically and histologically but also immunohistochemically to succeed, and similarly to the scalpel incision and the extracellular matrix of the connective tissue, remains imperishable and stable. Bone healing in an inferior border defect of the rat mandible was examined using either an Er:YAG laser or a mechanical bur for drilling.