Dental system and method

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a dental network including a portable dental laser station controllable within a remote access system. The dental laser station can include a dental laser, and a dental handpiece assembly coupled to or including the at least one dental laser. Some embodiments include a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a dental laser management process to exchange dentistry-related parameters between the dental laser station or components and a remote network. Some embodiments include a handpiece assembly structured so that any beam size on the output window or surface is greater than any beam size exiting at the input window or surface. Some embodiments include a laser power supply combination with at least one high voltage (HV) power supply, a coupled or integrated simmer supply, a direct current (DC) supply, and at least one laser configured with a power supply.

1 . A dental network comprising:
 at least one portable dental laser station configurable and controllable within a remote access system, the dental laser station including at least one dental laser;   a dental handpiece assembly coupled to or including the at least one dental laser;   a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in data communication with the processor, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a dental laser management process executable by the processor, and configured to manage exchange of at least one dentistry-related parameter between the at least one removable or portable dental laser station or one or more components coupled to the dental laser station and a remote network of the remote access system; and   a GUI display linked to or included in the dental laser station, the GUI display configured to display at least one operating parameter of the at least one dental laser, and any information received from or exchanged between the remote network of the remote access system and the at least one dental laser station.   
     
     
         2 . The dental network of  claim 1 , wherein the GUI display includes a touch screen. 
     
     
         3 . The dental network of  claim 1 , wherein the GUI display is configured and arranged to enable adjustment of operational characteristics of a dental laser. 
     
     
         4 . The dental network of  claim 1 , wherein the GUI display comprises or is coupled to a tablet or smartphone. 
     
     
         5 . The dental network of  claim 1 , wherein the remote access system can receive session and log data from any wired or wireless coupled system at a specific time or time interval. 
     
     
         6 . The dental network of  claim 5 , wherein the session data can include at least one of information related to one or more procedures, settings information, errors, and time spent firing the laser. 
     
     
         7 . The dental network of  claim 5 , wherein the log data includes events including screen presses in addition to raw communication data. 
     
     
         8 . A handpiece assembly comprising:
 an optical fiber distal end extending to an input window or surface of a fiber lens, the optical fiber distal end configured to direct a laser beam through a tip;   an output window or surface of the fiber lens, the fiber lens structured so that any beam size on the output window or surface is greater than any beam size exiting at the input window or surface; and   a mirror positioned to direct a laser beam exiting the output window or surface to a replaceable micro-lens of the tip that is configured to be place near or on a target surface.   
     
     
         9 . A laser power supply combination comprising:
 at least one high voltage (HV) power supply;   a coupled or integrated simmer supply;   a direct current (DC) supply; and   at least one laser configured with a power supply.