The use of CO2 9.3 µm Lasers for Dental Space Care in Microgravity: A hypothesis and comprehensive review

Abstract

Objective: CO₂ laser operating at 9.3 µm offers a non-contact, precise alternative for both soft and hard tissues, as well as restorative applications. This review aims to evaluate the clinical potential of integrating CO₂ 9.3 µm laser technology into space dentistry, offering improved treatment outcomes and enhanced safety compared to conventional rotary tools.

Materials and Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, and IEEE Xplore databases. The search terms included “CO₂ 9.3 µm dental laser”, “space dentistry”, “microgravity dental care”, “rotary instrument limitations microgravity”, “soft tissue laser dentistry”, “restorative laser dentistry”, “local anesthetic challenges microgravity”, “gate control theory laser analgesia”, “laser cooling microgravity”, “laser safety spacecraft”, “quality control laser micro-gravity”, and “standard operating procedures laser space.” Data extracted included study design, dental application (soft tissue vs. restorative), key findings, and relevance to space dentistry, quality control, and standard operating procedures.

Results: Twenty-two studies were enrolled; four focused on the limitations of conventional rotary instruments and the effectiveness of local anesthesia in microgravity. The CO₂ 9.3 µm laser offered precise, low-trauma soft tissue procedures with minimal bleeding, reduced aerosol production, and a lower need for anesthesia, key advantages in the microgravity environment. For hard tissue applications, it enables selective caries removal with superior cavity margins, reduced microfractures, and improved restoration outcomes.

Conclusion: Although the CO₂ 9.3 µm laser shows substantial promise, further testing in microgravity is necessary to confirm these benefits. Future research should also explore additional laser modalities (e.g., Er:YAG, diode, Nd:YAG) to determine their potential advantages under space conditions.

Clinical application: The use of CO2 9.3 µm lasers in space dentistry provides a precise, non-contact clinical alternative that enables low-trauma soft tissue procedures with minimal bleeding and a reduced need for anesthesia. Furthermore, for hard tissue applications, this laser technology facilitates selective caries removal with superior cavity margins, fewer microfractures, and significantly decreased aerosol production compared to conventional rotary instruments.