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Introduction

Enhance your understanding of pediatric laser dentistry, with a focus on tongue-ties, lip-ties, and other tethered oral tissues (TOTS). Ankyloglossia and related oral restrictions can interfere with breastfeeding, oral function, and healthy development. Infants affected by these restrictions may struggle with latch, milk transfer, and weight gain, and are sometimes mistakenly described as “lazy nursers” or “stubborn feeders.”

This course focuses on the practical application of soft-tissue lasers in pediatric dentistry, especially for lingual and labial frenectomy procedures. Participants will learn the fundamentals of laser-tissue interaction, including how laser energy affects incision depth, coagulation, and hemostasis in surgical margins. The hands-on participation lab is designed to help attendees better understand what surgical lasers can do safely, precisely, and efficiently in pediatric soft-tissue procedures.

Instructors

• Martin Kaplan, DMD
  2020 Kumar Patel Prize in Laser Surgery Recipient
• Tara Erson, DMD, IBCLC, D. ABDSM
• Peter Vitruk, PhD, MInstP

Read instructor biographies.

CE Credits

Earn up to 16 CE hours through our ADA CERP CE partner.

Tuition (USD)

Regular Rates
Doctors: $1,950; Non-Doctors: $1,450; ALSC members: $50 off; and LightScalpel users: $50 off. Register now.

Clinical Curriculum

• Background and significance of tethered oral tissues (TOTS)
• Diagnosis of pediatric tongue-ties and lip-ties
• Current clinical assessment methods for pediatric lingual and labial ties
• Multidisciplinary approaches to treatment
• Lactation support for the breastfeeding tongue-tied dyad
• Bodywork and complementary therapies for infants with oral restrictions
• Setting appropriate expectations with families and patients

Attendees will:

• Describe infant sucking physiology and how tongue-ties can impair feeding
• Use reliable diagnostic criteria to screen infants and children for oral restrictions
• Explain the orthodontic and myofunctional implications of tethered oral tissues
• Discuss how soft-tissue restrictions within the orofacial complex may contribute to malocclusion, TMD, headaches, and related concerns
• Identify the clinical benefits and considerations of using lasers to release oral restrictions

In addition, attendees will learn to remove oral restrictions using soft-tissue lasers by observing live surgery demonstrations.

Laser Curriculum

The laser curriculum for this course has been developed by the American Laser Study Club (ALSC). It is designed to address common limitations of many laser dentistry courses by providing a deeper understanding of the physics of soft-tissue ablation and coagulation using both laser and hot-tip (non-laser) devices. The hands-on wet lab on tissue samples will include laser safety instruction, frenectomy simulations, and demonstrations of other soft-tissue laser procedures. Laser instruction will be supported by guest speaker Peter Vitruk, PhD, MInstP, laser physicist and founder of the ALSC and LightScalpel, Inc.

Hands-On Participation Session

• Laser Safety
• Laser Surgical Technique Simulations
• Superficial Ablation
• Superficial Coagulation
• Shallow Incisions
• Deep Incisions
• Practicing Surgical Techniques on a Pig Jaw

Course Certificates

Course participants, who successfully complete the examination, will be awarded a LASER SAFETY basic knowledge CERTIFICATE from the Board of Laser Safety of the Laser Institute of America (DISCOUNTED cost for the ALSC members), as well as a Laser Dentistry and Laser Surgery Basic Knowledge and Hands-On participation Wet lab CERTIFICATE from the American Laser Study Club (FREE for the course participants).

About the ALSC

The American Laser Study Club was founded to promote science-based laser dentistry, surgery, and safety education. The ALSC is proud of its curriculum and its distinguished membership, including our honorary members Gordon J. Christensen, DDS, MSD, PhD, and Rella P. Christensen, RDH, PhD, world-renowned leaders in dental product research and education, who welcomed the ALSC’s mission: “Peter, we congratulate you on starting a laser study club. It is greatly needed, and you are the man to do it.” Other Honorary Members of the ALSC are Charles M. Cobb, DDS, MS, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Missouri-Kansas City; and C. Kumar N. Patel, PhD, MS, the Inventor of the CO₂ Laser; Recipient of National Medal of Science (1996); Member of US National Inventors Hall of Fame 2012; Professor Emeritus, UCLA. The ALSC is proud to have helped many dentists and surgeons.

GLOH Education is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. This continuing education activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) through joint efforts between GLOH Education and the American Laser Study Club. GLOH Education designates this activity for 16 continuing education credits.

*Information, terms, and conditions in this communication are subject to change without prior notice. The American Laser Study Club reserves the right to change the course’s location, date, and time, material, and to cancel the course. Registered attendees will be notified within a reasonable window of time about any major changes to the course. If a course is canceled, registrants will be notified via email two weeks before the course date, at which time a full refund will be issued. Requested refunds will incur a 20% processing fee. No cancellations within 2 weeks of the course date.