Laser dental devices and methods

A laser dental device comprising:

• a housing,
• a laser source including a flashlamp within said housing for generating a laser beam when said laser source is fired;
• an emission head having a first end and a second end wherein said first end is attached to said housing, said laser beam passing through said emission head to said second end;
• and
• a focus sensor attached to said second end of said emission head for positioning said emission head at a predetermined distance from a surface of a patient's mouth to be engaged by said laser beam, said focus sensor including a movable feeler member having an actuator that enables said laser source so that said laser source continuously fires when said emission head is within a range of distances that allow said laser source to engage the surface of a patient's mouth across the entire beam waist of said laser source;
• and
• a laser termination system comprised of at least one patient head rest pad, wherein each patient head rest pad has a sensor electrically coupled to said laser source for sensing a force applied to each patient head rest pad by the patient, said laser source being automatically terminated when an insufficient force is place upon said head rest pad by said patient.

A focus sensor for use on a laser dental device comprising:

• a housing having a first end and a second end, said housing having an opening at said first end defining an inner wall, said housing mountable to the laser dental device;
• a feeler mounted to said housing for reciprocating movement, said feeler having a first end and a second end, wherein said second end of said feeler extends through said opening at said first end of said housing;
• a pin attached to said second end of said feeler;
• a spring having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said spring is attached to said second end of said feeler, and said second end of said spring is attached to said inner wall of said housing;
• an actuator positioned within said housing and establishing contact that allows a laser source within the laser dental device to continuously fire at a range of distances from the surface to be engaged equal to the length of the beam waist of said laser source.

A laser dental device comprising:

• a housing;
• a laser source including a flashlamp within said housing for generating a laser beam when said laser source is fired;
• an emission head having a first end and a second end wherein said first end is attached to said housing, said laser beam passing through said emission head to said second end;
• and
• a focus sensor attached to said second end of said emission head for positioning said emission head at a predetermined distance from a surface of a patient's mouth to be engaged by said laser beam, said focus sensor including a movable feeler member having an actuator that enables said laser source so that said laser source continuously fires when said emission head is within a range of distances that allow said laser source to engage the surface of a patient's mouth across the entire beam waist of said laser source;
• and
• a locking system attached to said second end of said emission head for removably locking said emission head to the patient, said emission head including a beam rotator at said first end of said emission head, said beam rotator comprising a central mirror and a rotating slidable adjustable outer mirror within a rotatable housing, said laser locking system being electrically coupled to said laser source for automatically terminating said laser source when said locking system is disengaged;
• a cooling system electrically coupled with said laser source for cooling the surface of the patient's mouth by applying pulses of predetermined amounts of a nonaqueous solution to the surface of the patient's mouth;
• and
• a laser termination system comprised of at least one patient head rest pad, wherein each patient head rest pad has a sensor electrically coupled to said laser source for sensing a force applied to each patient head rest pad by the patient, said laser source being automatically terminated when insufficient force is placed upon said head rest pad.

A method of engaging a selected area of a mouth surface of a patient with laser radiation from a dental device, said dental device defining a laser radiation focal point, said method comprising the steps of:

• positioning the dental device in proximate location with the mouth surface so that the laser radiation focal point is directed at the selected area of the mouth surface;
• removably locking the dental device to the patient in said proximate location so that the laser radiation focal point remains directed at the selected area of the mouth surface;
• engaging the selected area of the mouth surface with pulses of laser radiation;
• sensing a patient's head within a head rest and sending a head rest signal to the dental device before engaging the selected area of the mouth surface with said pulses of laser radiation;
• and
• sensing the mouth surface and sending a distance signal to said dental device such that the pulses of laser radiation are only applied when a predetermined distance between the laser dental device and the mouth surface is sensed.