Laser Safety PDF

LASER SAFETY LASER HAZARDS & REGULATIONS Lasers used in dentistry for bacterial decontamination or ablation techniques are considered to be class 4 lasers. In compliance with ANSI Z136 (American National Standard For Safe Use Of Lasers) standards,all facilities where class 4 lasers are in use r...

LASER SAFETY LASER HAZARDS & REGULATIONS Lasers used in dentistry for bacterial decontamination or ablation techniques are considered to be class 4 lasers. In compliance with ANSI Z136 (American National Standard For Safe Use Of Lasers) standards,all facilities where class 4 lasers are in use require a Laser Safety Officer (LSO) to oversee the laser safety program LASER BEAM HAZARDS RESULT FROM POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO THE LASER BEAM OR ITS REflECTIONS Class 4 laser systems are considered high-powered and can pose a hazard to the eye or skin from direct beam exposure. The ANSI Z136.3 standard defines key safety protocols to be followed to keep all laser operators, auxiliary staff and patients safe: ○ Understanding how to maintain and control a Nominal Hazard Zone ○ Identify appropriate laser safety eye wear ○ Manage the laser plume or laser generated air contaminants (LGAC) ○ Minimize the potential for fire THE NOMINAL HAZARD ZONE (NHZ) This is a distance within which exposure to a direct, reflected, or scattered beam is greater than the Maximum permissible exposure MPE. Mirrors, optics, and reflective materials in the beam path may result in diffuse or specular reflections in unintended directions. Specular reflections are hazardous over a greater range than diffuse reflections. If you are in the NHZ, you are at risk of an exposure above the MPE. The NHZ differs for all lasers dependent upon laser wavelength, laser fiber size and beam divergence. (Information relative to a laser's specific NHZ can be found in the manufacturer's laser manual or Information for Use) THE NOMINAL HAZARD ZONE (NHZ) All people within the NHZ must wear appropriate laser safety eyewear, specific to the laser in use. (Laser safety eyewear is labeled with its optical density and the wavelengths the particular glasses will protect against) For most lasers the entire dental operatory becomes the NHZ. Every entrance to the NHZ must be marked with an appropriate sign. LASER PLUME /LASER GENERATED AIR CONTAMINANTS (LGAC) The laser plume is a visible or invisible biologic hazard of gas fumes created when tissue is ablated or vaporized. Proper management of laser plume is imperative as the laser plume has the ability to carry viruses, bacteria and other organisms that can be hazardous to the laser operator and assisting personnel. High volume evacuation is required when the laser is in use and surgical mask should be worn. N95 masks offer excellent protection. FIRE HAZARD Combustible materials, such as alcohol, should never come in contact with the working beam of the laser. If general anesthesia is employed with the use of a laser, non-combustible gases for general anesthesia must be used. APPROPRIATE STAFF TRAINING Clinicians (dentists and dental hygienists) using lasers need specific training at the standard proficiency certification level that licensed dental professionals use lasers within their scope of practice and in a manner where the procedure is safe, effective and consistent with the clinician’s education, training and is device specific.  CLINICAL SCENARIOS  Q\ ANSWER THE FOLLOWING 1-what is the name of procedure done in this case 2-What is the device of choice 3-what is the chloroform that is targeted by the device Q\ ANSWER THE FOLLOWING 1-what is the name of procedure done in this case 2-What is the device of choice 3-what is the chloroform that is targeted by the device Q\ ANSWER THE FOLLOWING 1-what is the name of procedure done in this case 2-What is the device of choice 3-what is the chloroform that is targeted by the device Q\ ANSWER THE FOLLOWING 1-what is the name of procedure done in this case 2-What is the device of choice 3-what is the mode of action THANK YOU