Full operating parameter recording as an essential component of the reproducibility of laser-tissue interaction and treatments

Background. The number and diversity of published peer-reviewed studies in the discipline of laser dentistry have grown considerably during the past 10 years. Objectives. Within primary research, the development of protocols to guide and formulate clinical practice demands precision and ease of reproducibility. Errors in data acquisition and management may become amplified as the applied randomized clinical trials (RCTs) forge new levels of clinical diversity and predictability in the use of laser photonic energy in both ablative (surgical) and sub-ablative (photobiomodulation (PBM) or photodynamic therapy (PDT)) applications. Materials and methods. A comprehensive range of empirical and computational operating parameters must be included in published studies to facilitate the uniformity of power- and time-related values of laser irradiation. Results. Choosing the correct “tissue irradiation parameters” is difficult and depends on the pathology and symptoms, the surface area to be treated, laser wavelength, the thermal relaxation time of each targeted tissue, and controlling penetration depth of the light into tissues. Therefore, to allow the reproducibility of the results, it is recommended that authors mention with the greatest care and clarity the irradiation parameters used in their study. Conclusions. This paper outlines the concerns felt regarding the general shortfalls and proposes a minimum range of laser operating parameters that should be represented in future peer-reviewed publications.