Preserving Tooth Tissue: Bay Laurel and Laser Method from BelSU Safeguards Tooth Health During Dental Procedures

When treating deep cavities, dentists often encounter perforations – openings that connect the internal cavities of the tooth to the surrounding oral tissues. To address this challenge, practicing dentists and postgraduate students from the Department of Orthopedic Dentistry at Belgorod National Research University (BelSU), including Elizaveta Chikareva and Alexey Pirozhkov, developed a novel method under the guidance of Professor Irina Ryzhova. The uniqueness of this method lies in its combination of bay laurel hydrosol treatment and modern laser activation technologies.

“This combination significantly reduces the inflammatory response and supports natural regenerative processes, helping to preserve the vitality of tooth tissue,” Professor Ryzhova explained in an interview with RIA Novosti.

During a perforation, it is crucial for dentists to not only close the defect but also maintain tissue viability, minimize inflammation, and create optimal conditions for recovery. Traditional methods often involve aggressive interventions that prioritize technical solutions but may overlook the physiological needs of the tissue.

“Hydrosols are multi-component natural systems with a wide range of biological effects. Their natural versatility makes them a focus of our scientific research and clinical studies,” Professor Ryzhova added. She emphasized that each distillation of hydrosol is unique – a characteristic inherent to plant products. Chromatographic analysis confirmed that the laurel hydrosol used contains beneficial components such as eucalyptol, terpineol, and alpha-terpineol, all known for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that facilitate deep cleansing and disinfection of the exposed pulp chamber.

After removing affected areas of dental tissue, dentists treat the exposed pulp chamber with laurel hydrosol and activate it using diffuse laser light with a wavelength of 810 nm and a power not exceeding 1.5 W. This activation process lasts for 120 seconds, allowing the laser beam to enhance the penetration of the hydrosol’s active components into the tooth tissue, amplifying their effects.

According to the method’s developers, this innovative approach effectively alleviates inflammation and reduces both immediate and long-term complications.

“In this case, the laser acts as a tool that enhances and balances the effects of the hydrosol. The synergy between these two components leads to gentler and more physiological results, supporting natural regenerative processes,” noted Professor Ryzhova.

The groundbreaking method created by BelSU scientists has already been implemented in dental therapy. More than 30 patients in dental clinics across Belgorod and Moscow have received treatment using this technique, specifically during procedures involving deep carious lesions.

“As society becomes more receptive to scientific solutions that blend technological advancements with respect for nature, we believe this represents the future direction of modern dentistry – integrative, meaningful, and patient-centred,” shared Professor Ryzhova.

Notably, this innovative method does not require sophisticated technical equipment and can be easily adopted by most dental offices and clinics. The uniqueness and novelty of this development are safeguarded by a patent from the Russian Federation.