In the early 1990's the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of dental lasers on the gums and other soft tissue. A few years later they then approved the use dental lasers of hard tissues such as teeth or bone. There are many different variations of dental lasers and they are used with several different wavelengths so they are versatile for diverse procedures. Most commonly, dental lasers are used to assist with gum disease. The engery (light) that is emitted helps to remove bacteria and recontour the tissue. This assists in making the tissue healthy, stopping or removing infections, and preventing dental caries to form.

Dental lasers are by no means a cure for gum disease. These lasers are only intended to assist in the process of maintaing gum disease and to recontour certain soft tissues that may be harmful.