FDA clearance for laser contact bone removal

Lumenis Ltd., and OpusDent Ltd., its dental laser division, announced the FDA clearance of the OpusDuo™ Er:YAG laser system for contact bone removal during oral surgical and periodontal procedures. This represents the first ever FDA clearance for contact cutting of bone tissue in dentistry and is based on the precise and safe Thermal Mechanical Ablation (TMA) of bone utilizing the company's proprietary contact sapphire tip.

"Lumenis is pleased to extend its 39-year track record of pioneering groundbreaking laser systems with novel applications," said Avner Raz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lumenis, the parent company of OpusDent. "We believe this clearance paves the way for dental professionals to achieve unparalleled clinical results by staying in contact with calcified bony tissue. Contact bone removal using our OpusDuo(TM) laser system sets a new benchmark for oral and periodontal surgery in the U.S. and provides dentists and oral surgeons the most effective laser systems on the market."

Lumenis reviewed this new application with over 100 U.S. and international dental professionals at the December Symphony of Light Laser Education Symposium in Las Vegas, NV. Dr. Eric Bornstein of Natick, MA, who assisted Lumenis with the FDA application, said, "FDA clearance for the 'contact cutting' of bone is one of the most significant milestones ever reached in the dental laser field. This will allow practitioners using the OpusDuo(TM) to actually feel the laser hand-piece make contact with the bony tissues being ablated, instead of the previous method, of having to point and shoot in a surgical field."

The Symphony of Light Laser Education Symposium, sponsored by OpusDent and held monthly in cities across the U.S., introduces dental practitioners to the benefits of laser dentistry and expands their skills with new techniques and procedures. In classroom and hands-on wet labs, prominent faculty and staff ensure that attendees gain a comprehensive knowledge of laser dentistry from basic physics to the interaction of specific laser energy on various tissue types. A Standard Proficiency Certification segment recognized by the Academy of Laser Dentistry is included within the two-day program. In addition, all participants receive 12 continuing education credits recognized by the American Dental Association and Academy of General Dentistry. For more information on the Symphony of Light program and future seminar dates and locations, call 408-764-3813.