​​Sapphire Rods/Cores Light Guide Rods for Dental Laser Applications​​

• High Hardness and Wear Resistance​​: With a Mohs hardness of 9 (second only to diamond), it withstands frequent friction and scraping against hard tooth tissues, ensuring a long service life.

• ​​Excellent Light Transmittance​​: Exhibits high transmittance in the visible to near-infrared spectrum (e.g., dental lasers at 790–830 nm and 980 nm), minimizing laser energy loss during transmission.

• ​​Biocompatibility and Corrosion Resistance​​: As an inert material, it is non-toxic and non-allergenic, resistant to acidic oral environments and disinfectants (e.g., alcohol, hydrogen peroxide), and withstands high-temperature high-pressure sterilization (134°C), meeting stringent medical device hygiene standards.

• ​​Superior Thermal Management​​: High thermal conductivity rapidly dissipates heat generated by lasers, combined with a low thermal expansion coefficient, maintaining structural stability under repeated thermal cycling and preventing cracking or performance degradation due to sudden temperature changes.

• Teeth Whitening​​: Transmits specific wavelength lasers (e.g., 488 nm argon laser) to irradiate teeth surfaces coated with bleaching agents, catalyzing hydrogen peroxide decomposition to ​​accelerate the whitening reaction​​ and shorten treatment time.
• ​​Dentin Desensitization Treatment​​: Laser irradiation (e.g., 790–830 nm semiconductor laser) of sensitive areas ​​seals dentinal tubules​​, reducing tooth sensitivity to hot and cold stimuli.
• ​​Soft Tissue Surgery and Sterilization​​: Used in gingivectomy, periodontal pocket disinfection, etc., where laser energy ​​precisely cuts tissue while simultaneously achieving hemostasis​​, reducing postoperative swelling and pain.
• ​​Root Canal Treatment​​: Delivers laser into the root canal system to ​​effectively eliminate internal microorganisms​​, enhancing disinfection efficacy.
• ​​Light-Curing Assistance​​: In certain light-curing devices, sapphire light-guide components help transmit specific wavelength light to ​​promote resin material polymerization​​.

The principle involves using laser energy to pulverize the calculus, which is then flushed out via irrigation. Since laser calculus removal does not involve direct contact with the tooth surface, the treated area becomes smoother and sustains less damage.

1. ​​Laser Transmission​​: When laser light enters one end of the sapphire rod, because sapphire's refractive index (approximately 1.76 @ 589 nm) is higher than that of the surrounding medium (e.g., air or a protective layer), the light undergoes ​​total internal reflection​​ at the rod's inner walls. This confines the laser within the rod, allowing it to propagate forward with minimal loss.
2. ​​Energy Output and Control​​: The laser energy ultimately emits from the output end of the sapphire rod onto the target tissue. By controlling the laser source parameters (power, pulse duration) and the specific design of the rod's front end (e.g., flat, tapered, or spherical), it is possible to ​​precisely regulate the spot shape, energy density, and penetration depth​​ on the tissue. For example, in teeth whitening, the laser uniformly irradiates the tooth surface via the sapphire rod; in soft tissue surgery, the energy is focused on a tiny area for precise cutting.

Sapphire Rods and Cores in Dental Laser​ FAQ