Editor's note: The following is an edited press release from the the Academy of Laser Dentistry.
The Academy of Laser Dentistry (ALD) will be showcasing the healing potential of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) during ALD 2018. The event is taking place April 26–28 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida. PBMT utilizes low-level laser light or light-emitting diodes to stimulate cellular function, which leads to beneficial clinical effects. This includes accelerating tissue repair and reducing pain and inflammation at the site where the beam is applied.
According to ALD Executive Director Gail Siminovsky, "The Academy of Laser Dentistry is leading the way in creating awareness and providing education related to the adoption of PBMT in dentistry. Currently, the most common PBMT dental applications include treating patients afflicted with oral mucositis caused by chemotherapy and those suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder. Both PBMT applications will be prominently featured in this year’s program."
The conference's PBMT-focused keynotes, lectures, and workshops include:
PBMT ORAL CANCER APPLICATIONS
· Keynotes:
o A Story Not Silenced by Oral Cancer - Eva Grayzel
o Light Years Ahead: Use of Photobiomodulation in Oral Mucositis - Annette Quinn, RN, MSN
· Lectures:
o Photobiomodulation in Oral Oncology - Joel Epstein, DMD, MSD
o The Effects of Photobiomodulation Therapy on the Immune Response - Jeri-Anne Lyons, PhD
o Watts It All About? A Little-Understood Area of PBMT but Worth the Time - James Carroll, AMInstP, FRSM
· Workshop:
o Oral Physician – The Role of Dentists in Diagnosis and Management of Mucositis and Other Cancer-Related Oral Complications - Arun Darbar, BDS; Annette Quinn, RN, MSN; Joel Epstein, DMD, MSD; James Carroll, AMInstM, FRSM
PBMT PAIN MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS
· Lectures:
o History of PBMT Research in Australia and Its Relevance to Dentistry, Including Headache and Pain - Ann Liebert, PhD
o A Review of the Nd:YAG Laser for Photobiomodulation and Practical Application of a Flat-Top Handpiece in Dentistry - Jason Pang, BDS
o 4-Year Follow-Up of Clinical Cases Involving Healing of Soft and Hard Tissues by Stimulating Stem Cells Using Nd:YAG and Diode Lasers at the Lowest Level - Nuran Çulcuoğlu, DDS, MSc
o Photobiomodulation Techniques and Targets for TMD - James Carroll, AMInstP, FRSM
o Adapting a 940-nm High-Intensity Surgical Diode Laser as an Intraoral Photobiomodulation Unit Juliana Barros, DDS, MS
General PBMT Workshop - Gerald Ross, DDS; Arun Darbar, BDS
Note: The keynotes, lectures and workshops listed above may discuss investigational devices or treatments that have not yet received U.S. FDA approval or clearance for the specified clinical indications, or may describe off-label treatments or uses of these devices. For detailed and up-to-date information about ALD 2018, including courses, exhibitors, social events and registration, click here.
