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Use of the Er:YAG laser for improved plating in maxillofacial surgery: Comparison of bone healing in laser and drill osteotomies

Surgical reconstruction of bony defects in the maxillofacial region involves fixation of bony fragments with mini and micro plates. Bone stabilization during hole drilling is often challenging due to the need to apply pressure when using a conventional mechanical Hall drill. In addition, fragmentation of the fragile bones may occur and complicate the reconstruction. The pulsed Er:YAG laser offers an attractive alternative drilling modality because it does not require physical contact with the bone in order to drill holes, cuts bone with minimal thermal damage, and allows precise control of bone cutting. The objective of this study was to investigate the pulsed Er:YAG laser as an alternative to the mechanical bur by comparing bone healing using both modalities.