UNAIR NEWS – UNAIR researchers have developed a device named Dentolaser which can be used by dentist as dental therapy by laser. Dentolaser was designed by Dr.Suryani Dyah Astuti, a researcher and lecturer of Physic Department, Faculty of Science and Technology.

She teamed up with Dr. Ernie Maduratna and Deni Arifianto, they designed two types of Dentolaser. The difference was on their range of wavelength. Each device has 405 nanometer and 600 nanometer wavelength.

They also have different use. Dentolaser with 405 nm wavelength used for removing bacteria, meanwhile, Dentolaser with 600 nm used for photo bio-modulation cells.

“The first device (Dentolaser 405 nm) used for removing bacteria and the other is (Dentolaser 600 nm) used for Photo Bio-modulation cells like acupuncture, wound healing and medical rehabilitation,” Dyah said.

The gum disease which can be treated by Dentolaser includes periodontal disease, orthodontia, wound, bleeding and also inflammation.

She prefers laser for therapy because the photodynamic therapy method uses light, photosensitizer and oxygen. Those three produce radical oxygen species (ROS) which causes death of unwanted cells, such as cancer, microbes, bacteria and virus.

“Type of dying cell process is not similar to antibiotic which lead to DNA changes. In ROS, is by destroying cells membrane. If the cell membrane breaks, water will enter to cell and lead to lysis or death of cells. It’s not caused resistance of the microbes,” Dyah explained.

The researcher who has studied photodynamic since 2007 finally chose laser for medical field due to its excellent points. Laser beam is monochromatic, coherent and has higher power, so the exposure will be shorter. Thus, she uses laser to treat gum disease and others disease.

Dentolaser product was developed in 2015. At the time, Dyah and team included their research in the program of beginner entrepreneur based on technology (CPBBT). From there, they designed two types of Dentolaser.

Previously, dentist treats gum disease by using antibiotic. Since antibiotic lead to resistance, so Dentolaser product has its own advantages. It does not cause resistant and able to reach difficult part of oral cavity.

“For example, Dentolaser is able to access under tooth’s root. It is ergonomic,” she said.

Dentolaser is handy, portable and it uses battery. It has fiber for delivering laser beam that can minimize power loss.

Deni, member of Dentolaser team, said that Dentolaser works in three modes. Constant light, dim to light mode, and blinking light (off then on then off again). It can last for 40 seconds once beaming. For battery power, it lasts for a month.

The usage depends on the dentist. “So, if it is blue light, the intensity is high and feels hotter. To avoid it, using blinking mode.  If is from low to high, the use depends on the dentist to prevent patient being shocked from the heat,” Dyah said.

“For example, in periodontics disease or gum recession.  Gum recession caused by bacteria in tooth pocket. In treatment, gum will be pulled down and irradiated in pocket area,” Dyah said.

Based on its in vitro research, the combination between antibiotic Doxycycline and laser beam kills bacteria up to 86%. However, the lecture from Physic Department, said that Dentolaser is not always combined with antibiotics. But the pra- clinical trial is always applied for gum recession.

“Without antibiotics, it still works. We combined with Doxycline because gum recession tends to be fragile. Meanwhile, Doxycline tends to agglutinate. We add some Doxycline to remove the bacteria then irradiated. The remaining bacteria will be killed by this laser,” she said.

She emphasized that the laser tool which can be used for a month is not only used in dental medicine but it can also  be used in dermatology to cure acne and medical rehabilitation.

University Industry

Since 2016, the product of Dentolaser has been registered to get its patent right Ministry of Law and Human Rights. In the beginning of March, Dentolaser research team got 4 billion research grant from General Directorate of Innovation Reinforcement, Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, Republic of Indonesia through research entitled “Innovation of Antimicrobial And Bio Modulation Cells Dentolaser Production for Response Accelerator in Gum Disease Treatment”.

“We use the grants for mass production, so it can be useful for the society. It can be done by establishing university industry. The grants are in form of equipments, certification management, and many more. Through this industry, our students working in the same field, can learn there,” Dyah said.

The mass production is scheduled to be conducted in 2018. Meanwhile, in 2017 they will establish the university industry and improve the equipments. The device production during research cost 2.75 Million rupiah until 3 million rupiah.

“Currently, this device is still in prototype phase and we handmade it. So if it is aimed for mass production and to be sold in the market, it should have good quality. For the rest, we will assemble and conduct quality control test. If it works as expected, we will mass produce the device then we conduct the market test. The ideas and designs are all from us (the researcher team),” Deny said.

Author: Defrina Sukma S

Editor : Binti Q. Masruroh