The CO2 laser beam was introduced in oral laser surgery in 1980, and it revolutionized the field. Its effects on oral soft tissues offer many advantages: bloodless surgery, decontamination of the surgical site by heat generated, no need for suturing healthy patients, simplicity of use, and perfect control of the removed tissues. In addition, using the CO2 laser beam improves the tissue quality of the healed area due to collagen secretion induced by the tissular beam action, and has a bio-modulation effect on irradiated tissues. This atlas will examine and discuss some procedures common in different fields of current oral surgery. First, we present an introduction to laser physics, as well as guidelines for proper clinical protocol. Then, we examine how the laser beam can be useful to practitioners in different specialties, such as periodontics, endodontics, orthodontics, implantology, pre-prosthetic surgery, and oral soft tissues diseases treatments. Over 200 full-color photographs accompany step-by-step surgical procedures including frenectomy, removal of infected tumors, ablation of benign tumors, gingivectomy, treatment of vascular lesions, treatment of hyperkeratosis, and vestibular deepening. Finally, we engage in a round table discussion with some of the best international experts in the field of oral surgery.
