The research
10 studies behind the Er:YAG and Nd:YAG wavelengths used in LightWalker procedures — with the one fact from each worth remembering.
Periodontics · RCT
A randomized controlled trial found significantly better improvements in probing depth and clinical attachment level at 2 months when combined Nd:YAG/Er:YAG laser therapy was added to conventional non-surgical treatment, versus conventional treatment alone.
PubMed · PMID 33813638Restorative · Clinical trial
Early clinical trials found Er:YAG laser cavity preparation caused minimal patient discomfort, with the large majority of treated teeth requiring no local anesthesia at all.
PubMed · PMID 9041505Pediatric · Randomized trial
A randomized trial in children comparing Er:YAG laser to a traditional drill found reduced anesthesia use, less pain, and lower anxiety with the laser, and no meaningful difference in treatment success after a year of follow-up.
Journal of Clinical Pediatric DentistryMicrobiology · Lab study
Lab testing of Er:YAG laser irradiation (on a LightWalker system) against oral biofilms found substantial reduction in microbial viability, with especially strong effects against Candida albicans.
PMC11943470Oncology support · Registered trial
A registered randomized trial is evaluating whether Nd:YAG LightWalker laser therapy can reduce the incidence, severity, and duration of oral mucositis in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation.
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT05175222Meta-analysis
A review across eleven studies found Er:YAG lasers effective for conservative caries removal, generally causing less pain and anxiety than rotary instruments, though typically taking longer to complete.
ScienceDirectImplantology · In vitro study
Testing on implants removed from peri-implantitis cases found that Er:YAG laser irradiation could clean carbon contamination from the implant surface, helping identify an effective decontamination protocol.
PMC6313799Implantology · Controlled trial
A controlled trial compared combined Er:YAG/Nd:YAG laser treatment against conventional surgical debridement for peri-implantitis, evaluating clinical outcomes and bone-loss biomarkers at six months.
PMC10046921Sleep medicine · RCT
A randomized, sham-controlled trial of 40 patients found NightLase's non-invasive Er:YAG treatment significantly improved both patient- and bed-partner-reported snoring scores after three sessions, with no anesthesia needed and no complications.
PMC9813098Endodontics · Systematic review
A systematic review of 15 studies (2015–2025) found Er:YAG-activated irrigation — including Fotona's SWEEPS mode — outperformed conventional irrigation for smear layer removal and biofilm disruption, with SWEEPS showing the strongest bacterial reduction, especially near the root apex.
PMC11941447Summaries only — click through to each source for full methodology and results. These are third-party findings on the Er:YAG/Nd:YAG wavelengths generally (several conducted on Fotona systems specifically); individual clinical outcomes vary by practice, patient, and case.
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