February 22nd, 2025: Dr. Fred Barnett

Frederic Barnett, DMD, FIADT, FACD, FICD

Chairman and Program Director
I.B. Bender Division of Endodontics
Albert Einstein Medical Center, Phila., Pa., USA

Lasers in Endodontics- advanced irrigation, soft & hard tissue procedures

Description: It is well known that root canal preparation does not eliminate all tissue,
microorganisms, and biofilm from the root canal system which is why irrigation with
antimicrobial agents is critical for success. Different agitation techniques have been proposed to improve the efficacy of irrigation solutions traditionally delivered by syringes, including sonic and ultrasonic devices. The use of erbium lasers has gained popularity over the past several years because of the beneficial cavitation, shock waves, shear forces and acoustic streaming effects created by that wavelength. This presentation will address the use of erbium lasers for conventional endodontic treatment as well as for soft and hard tissue procedures.

Learning Objectives: At conclusion, participants should be able to:

1. Understand some basic laser physics and laser-tissue interactions.
2. Understand the mechanism of action of erbium lasers and its interaction with water,
   irritants, and soft and hard tissue.
3. Understand how the incorporation of erbium lasers will streamline endodontic treatment.