CLINICAL GUIDE • Updated February 2026
Best Medical & Dental Laser Systems
Medical lasers are precision instruments where wavelength, pulse structure, and delivery system match specific clinical needs. Here's a comprehensive overview of technologies and applications.
Wavelength Quick Reference
- Er:YAG (2940nm): Hard tissue, dental, skin resurfacing
- CO2 (10,600nm): Soft tissue surgery, skin resurfacing
- Nd:YAG (1064nm): Deep tissue penetration, hair removal, vascular
- Diode (810-980nm): Versatile, hair removal, soft tissue
- Alexandrite (755nm): Hair removal on lighter skin
- Excimer (193nm): LASIK, corneal surgery
Understanding Tissue Interaction
Medical laser selection is fundamentally about chromophore targeting. Different wavelengths are absorbed by specific tissue components:
- Water (Er:YAG, CO2): Precise ablation with minimal thermal spread
- Melanin (Alexandrite, Ruby): Hair follicle and pigmented lesion targeting
- Hemoglobin (Nd:YAG, KTP): Vascular lesion treatment
- Collagen remodeling: Non-ablative rejuvenation
Dental Lasers
Dental applications have grown rapidly, with lasers now used for:
- Hard tissue preparation (cavity prep without anesthesia)
- Soft tissue surgery (gingivectomy, frenectomy)
- Endodontics (canal disinfection)
- Periodontal treatment
- Teeth whitening (activation)
Key Players in Dental
- BIOLASE: Waterlase series (Er,Cr:YSGG)
- Morita: Er:YAG systems
- Fotona: Dual-wavelength (Er:YAG + Nd:YAG)
- KaVo: Diode and Er:YAG options
Dental Laser Systems
Surgical Lasers
CO2 Surgical Lasers
The workhorse of surgical lasers. CO2 lasers excel at soft tissue cutting with hemostasis. Common in:
- ENT surgery (vocal cord, airway)
- Gynecology
- Dermatologic surgery
- Neurosurgery
Nd:YAG Surgical Applications
- Urological procedures (bladder tumors, BPH)
- Vascular surgery
- Gastroenterology (hemostasis, tumor ablation)
Aesthetic/Dermatology
The aesthetic laser market has exploded with systems for:
- Skin resurfacing: Fractional CO2, fractional Er:YAG
- Hair removal: Alexandrite, diode, Nd:YAG
- Tattoo removal: Q-switched Nd:YAG, picosecond lasers
- Vascular lesions: Pulsed dye, KTP, Nd:YAG
- Pigmented lesions: Q-switched Ruby, Alexandrite
Leading Aesthetic Companies
- Cynosure: Broad portfolio, PicoSure
- Lumenis: UltraPulse CO2, M22 platform
- Cutera: Excel HR, enlighten
- Fotona: StarWalker, SP Dynamis
- Candela: GentleMax Pro, Nordlys
All Medical Lasers (20 systems)
Alma Lasers Soprano Titanium
Solid • medical laser
100W
Alma Lasers Harmony XL Pro
Solid • medical laser
50W
Alma Lasers Accent Prime
Solid • medical laser
50W
Alma Lasers Harmony XL PRO
Solid • medical laser
30W
Alma Lasers Opus Plasma
Solid • medical laser
20W
BIOLASE Waterlase iPlus 2.0
Solid • medical laser
20W
BIOLASE Epic X Diode 10W
Fiber • medical laser
10W
BIOLASE Waterlase iPlus
Solid • medical laser
10W
BIOLASE Waterlase Express
Solid • medical laser
4W
Candela GentleMax Pro Plus
Solid • medical laser
100W
Ophthalmology
Eye surgery was among the first medical laser applications:
- Excimer (LASIK): Corneal reshaping for vision correction
- Nd:YAG: Posterior capsulotomy, glaucoma
- Argon/Green: Diabetic retinopathy, macular treatment
- Femtosecond: Flap creation, cataract surgery
Purchasing Considerations
- ✅ Regulatory clearance (FDA 510(k), CE mark, local requirements)
- ✅ Clinical training programs
- ✅ Service and support infrastructure
- ✅ Consumable costs (fiber tips, handpieces, gases)
- ✅ Installation requirements (power, cooling, ventilation)
- ✅ Laser safety officer training and compliance
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