Red Light Therapy for Dentistry
Date(s)Loretta Pouso, DDS, FAGD
Subject: 135 Laser Therapy
Credits: 1
Method: Lecture
Friday, Sep. 13: 1–2 p.m. CDT
Audience: Students, Residents, Dentists, Dental Assistants
Fee: $37.50 (students and residents); $75 (members); $125 (nonmembers)
Description
Celebrities, professional athletes and cancer survivors have all been implementing red light therapy (RLT) in their daily lives, and now RLT is finding its place in the dental office. This course will delve into the inception of RLT and its emerging role in dental practices, concentrating on the mechanisms of action and clinical implications. By utilizing specific wavelengths of light, RLT stimulates cellular processes in the mitochondria, which results in numerous healing effects. Such effects include but are not limited to inflammation reduction, accelerated wound healing, and even a substantial antibacterial property. RLT appears to show major promise in many dental areas of discipline, from periodontics and endodontics to ulcerative oral treatments such as oral mucositis from radiation therapy. RLT can also be used for treating conditions such as Bell’s palsy and sinusitis.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the history, science and mechanisms of action behind RLT as well as how it can be used in dental applications.
- Explore the clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of RLT in medicine and dentistry.
- Discuss the potential integration of RLT into dental practice protocols.
Speaker Bio
Loretta Pouso, DDS, FAGD, born and raised in New York City, is a graduate of the New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry. She continued her studies by completing a year of general practice residency at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, and studied advanced cosmetic and restorative dentistry at the prestigious Rosenthal Institute for Aesthetic Dentistry at NYU. The following year, Pouso was named clinical associate professor at the Rosenthal Institute. Pouso also received advanced dental education at the Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, Florida, and completed the DSD Residency. She is affiliated with AGD and has been for over 20 years.