Prevention of third molar development in dog with long pulse diode laser: a preliminary report.

INTRODUCTION

Wisdom teeth continue to plague man with a high rate of frequency. It may be possible to prevent their development in children at an early age with a non- or minimally invasive technique, even before the tooth begins to form, by treating the soft tissue overlying the site of their development. A previous study that treated the intra-oral soft tissues of newborn rats with a 20 watt diode laser stopped third molar development up to 80% of the time with minimum observable side effects. This brief report describes a similar use of the diode laser in a limited number of young beagle pups. It is the first reported attempt at preventing third molar development in an animal model close in size to man.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Four 6-7 week old beagle pups were treated on one side of their mandibles with either a 20 or a 100 watt, 800 nm diode laser at a time third molar tooth buds are just beginning to form under the oral mucosa. Six months following treatment, the pups were examined intra-orally and radiographically for evidence of third molar formation.

RESULTS

The two intra-oral sites that received the 20 watt diode laser treatment showed normal third molar development. The two intra-oral sites that received the 100 watt diode laser treatment did not develop third molars.

CONCLUSIONS

The diode laser may be capable of selectively stopping third molar development and further studies are warranted.