Patent ID: 7163400

Claim:
An apparatus for the treatment of a tooth, comprising a handpiece having a longitudinal axis; a light source having a wavelength in the range of between from about 400 nm to about 810 nm; wherein said handpiece is adapted to output light from said light source transversely to said longitudinal axis to provide an output light beam, said handpiece further adapted to provide at least two different spot sizes for said output beam, one of said spot sizes being relatively large and sized to treat lingual and buccal surfaces of the tooth, the other of the spot sizes being relatively small and sized to treat at least one interproximal surface of the teeth; and wherein the light emitted by said light source has a power which provides an energy and energy density for said output beam sufficient to vaporize water and organic material in the tooth enamel without damaging the pulp of the tooth, and wherein said light source provides said energy density for said output beam, wherein said output beam has an energy density in the range of between about 5 J/cm 2 to about 65 J/cm 2 .