When performing soft tissue surgery using a 9300-nm laser, what caution should be taken to prevent damage to tooth structure?

In soft tissue surgeries using a 9300-nm laser, caution regarding tooth structure is crucial because this wavelength can potentially penetrate and affect dental hard tissues more than desired. The correct choice highlights the importance of minimizing any unnecessary removal of tooth structure during the procedure. Excessive removal could weaken the tooth or lead to complications, such as sensitivity or increased risk for caries.

The focus during soft tissue surgery should be on precise targeting of the soft tissues while shielding the tooth structure from unnecessary laser exposure. This ensures that the integrity of the tooth remains intact and that the procedure effectively addresses the soft tissue issue without compromising dental health.

Other options, while they highlight different concerns related to laser use, do not directly address the issue of protecting tooth structure during soft tissue surgeries. For instance, photobiomodulation pertains to the therapeutic effects of light, pulpal necrosis concerns the death of the pulp tissue possibly due to thermal damage, and teratogenic effects relate to developmental issues during pregnancy, which are not relevant to the specifics of laser usage in soft tissue surgery.