Patent ID: 7255560

Claim:
A process for performing dental surgery with an instrument, wherein the instrument includes: (a) a hollow shank having, a rearward fitting, and a forward head including a contact region and a window in proximity thereto; (b) said contact region being adapted for cutting, scraping, and/or grinding dental tissue; (c) a source of laser energy, wherein the source is configured and arranged to produce laser energy for photodamage or photothermal effect to destroy residual bacteria; (d) said window being transmissive with respect to said laser energy; and (e) a fiber optic bundle extending from said source of laser energy, through said fitting and said shank for communication with said window; said dental process comprising applying said instrument to subject a surgical site simultaneously to (1) mechanical cutting, scraping and/or grinding, and (2) said laser energy for photodamage or photothermal effect, to remove diseased tissue and to destroy residual bacteria; wherein said laser energy is generated by at least one diode laser configured and arranged to produce an output including 870 nm or 930 nm or both.