CPC A61B 18/26 (2013.01) [A61C 1/0046 (2013.01); A61C 5/40 (2017.02); A61N 5/0624 (2013.01); A61N 7/022 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00565 (2013.01); A61B 2018/263 (2013.01); A61N 5/067 (2021.08); A61N 2005/0606 (2013.01); A61N 2005/0631 (2013.01)] | 17 Claims |
1. A method for cleaning a root canal of a tooth, the method comprising:
delivering a treatment liquid into the root canal;
inserting a tip of an optical fiber into the treatment liquid within the root canal, the optical fiber extending along a fiber axis, the tip comprising a conical tip that emits at least a portion of laser light laterally outwardly relative to the fiber axis;
operating a laser source to generate laser light;
pulsing the laser light along the optical fiber to the tip; and
directing at least a portion of the laser light laterally outwardly relative to the fiber axis into the treatment liquid, the laser light emanating from the tip having sufficient power to create photoacoustic waves in the treatment liquid of sufficient vibrational energy to remove at least organic material from a portion of a wall of the root canal.
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