The laser erbium technology represents a safe device to effectively and selectively remove carious tissues from decayed teeth. For children, all the recognized advantages of this technique play a decisive role in the successful day-to-day treatment of dental caries.

Given the paucity of data on laser-assisted dental trauma therapy in the international literature and the absence of well-structured guidelines, this is an area ripe for scientific research.

Laser technology is used in restorative dentistry as an alternative to traditional tools or a complementary one, adding many therapeutic advantages. The fi rst and most important is the selectivity for carious tissues and so its minimally invasive action. Laser increases the surface for bonding retention and so it may improve the adhesion of restorations if all the additional steps are carefully followed. All the "secrets" of laser technique are described with step-by-step illustrations of all the Black's classifi cation of cavities. Also, lasers can be used on both hard and soft tissues, including the pulp where they perform high decontaminating and coagulating effect during vital pulp therapy and on the gum, which can be vaporised for aesthetic or periodontal needs. Laser provides safe and comfortable therapy due to the absence of contact of rotating instruments with the tooth and consequently are less painful; in many cases, the use of local anaesthetics can be avoided, providing a favourable psychological impact on phobic and paediatric patients. Many particular clinical aspects of restorative dentistry, including the cracked tooth syndrome, the preparation for indirect restoration, and gingivectomy, are presented and discussed.

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