Dental paediatric patients may experience anxiety during dental visits as a result of pain phobia and bad past experiences. 1 A stress-free atmosphere is very important in case of paediatric patients in dentistry. The thought of pain and blood itself creates a stressed atmosphere for both child as well as parents.

Lasers are modern tools used in various cases in dentistry. Theodore Maiman created the first laser in 1960 at Hughes Research Laboratories. Lasers are recommended for a wide range of operations in dental practice due to their ease of use, comfort, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional modalities. The most common type of laser used in dentistry is the diode laser because of its simple setting, ease of usage, and versatility. Diode lasers are safe and highly recommended for soft oral tissue procedures in areas close to2, 3 Diode lasers are very effective in the surgical management of oral tissues because of the high concentration of chromophores.

In paediatric dentistry, lasers are used in soft tissue procedures, endodontic therapies, and the diagnosis and prevention of dental cavities. As dental lasers provide painless, bloodless procedures, it is applied in paediatric dentistry in order to create a friendly treatment atmosphere. In paediatric dentistry, lasers have developed into a cordial and broadly applicable therapeutic method. Hence lasers can be used to reduce the anxiety of children in clinical procedures compared to conventional procedures, thus nullifying the fear towards dental procedures when they approach the dentist in future.

Treating children differs from treating adults; therefore, understanding growth and abilities that are appropriate for their age is crucial. Reducing child’s apprehension and improving parent’s acceptance to the clinical procedure is very important in paediatric dentistry. Dental lasers help the dental professional to enhance the treatment outcome by reducing the child’s fear and making him/her more co-operative towards the treatment procedure. Lasers can be used in caries diagnosis, to prevent cavities, and perform minor oral surgery on paediatric patients. Numerous laser studies have clearly demonstrated that paediatric dental patients seem more cooperative with laser therapy. Laser-assisted procedures on soft and hard tissue is well-received by pediatric patients and their parents, facilitating easier child behaviour management, lowering psychological trauma during and after dental therapy, fostering a stronger bond between the dentist and the patient, and improving the latter's compliance. 2

Different laser wavelengths have different co-efficient of absorption with soft tissue and hard tissue such as blood, water and other pigments. Diode lasers are very well absorbed by pigments and blood when compared to those with longer wavelengths which have greater affinity with water and hydroxyapatite crystals.

In the present case report, the exposure of tooth using diode laser technology provided good healing, with considerably no loss of blood and no discomfort and pain during and after the procedure. Moreover, the procedure took minimal time with good patient co-operation. Thribhuvanan L et al. in their case report mentioned a similar case of management of unerupted teeth in a 9-year-old boy, where 980 nm wavelength diode laser in continuous mode at a power setting of 1.8 W was used and follow-up was reported to be satisfactory with the teeth erupting in their exact positions. 4 In their research, Roberts-Harry et al. verified that exposing unerupted teeth with lasers improved patient and dentist acceptability. 5

Lasers have vast applications in paediatric dentistry like caries detection and diagnosis, laser applied fluoride therapy, disinfection of root canals, excision of fibroma, papilloma, mucocele, ranula, eruption cyst etc. 6 Pisano M et al in their case report mentioned the use of 980-nm diode laser in continuous wave mode for excision of a swelling in the lower lip of an 11-year-old female patient. It was excised with a conservative approach using a diode laser that was non-stressful for the pediatric patient. 7 Hence laser can be considered as a newer tool for treating oral lesions in pediatric patients as comfortably as possible reducing the children's anxiety and stress.

A diode laser frenectomy performed at an 800 nm wavelength and 2 W of power demonstrated that the laser can be regarded as a secure substitute for kids, lowering the need for local anesthetics, reduced bleeding, and the likelihood of infection, and discomfort. 8 Apart from surgical applications, lasers have been used in cases of pain and inflammation. In pediatric dentistry, low-level laser therapy is indicated for cases of tooth pain, tooth eruption, TMJ pain, treating aphthous ulcers, and speeding up orthodontic movement. Low-level laser therapy promotes healing by acting on the cell receptors and causing the repair of tissues and reducing inflammation and pain. Because of the improved hemostasis, reduced oedema, and significant reduction in postoperative discomfort, diode lasers are therefore a viable therapeutic option for pediatric patients.

Dental care along with minimizing psychological side effects will help to avoid unpleasant and stressful experiences. A diode laser can be used to expose unerupted teeth during an operculectomy without harming the tooth that is erupting. Due of its unique features, the diode laser is an extremely helpful and user-friendly instrument in several pediatric dentistry applications.