1. Position Summary
Safe use of lasers in a dental practice must be achieved by following a program of laser safety activities and procedures which are monitored, reviewed and audited to achieve best practice.
2. Position
2.1. The development of codes and guidelines specific for the use of lasers in the dental workplace must include expert dental opinion.
2.2. Safe use of lasers must be achieved by following a program of laser safety, activities and procedures which are monitored, reviewed and audited to achieve best practice.
2.3. Dental practitioners using lasers must comply with AS/NZS 4173 and all regulatory requirements, complete appropriate training, and ensure equipment is properly registered, maintained, and used safely within their scope of practice. They must implement effective risk controls, protective measures, and documentation processes to ensure safe, clinically appropriate laser use and patient care.
3. Background
3.1. Dental practitioners have always been committed to providing a safe working environment for their staff, patients and other persons who visit their premises, so far as reasonably practicable. This includes the use of lasers and intense light sources which pose a risk from inadvertent exposure.
3.2. The ADA assists its members with advice on how to establish appropriate working protocols. This advice aligned with formal jurisdictional requirements as they exist in Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia, and in other jurisdictions, in order to reinforce the importance of the current (July 2022) version of AS/NZS 4173 Safe use of lasers and intense light sources in health care. This national standard is aligned with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards.
3.3. Lasers are classified according to their potential associated with their emissions, to cause injury to human eyes and skin, as defined in AS/NZS IEC 60825.1:2014 Safety of Laser Products Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements, and AS/NZS IEC 60825.14:2011 Safety of Laser Products Part 14: A User's guide:
• Class 1 lasers are fully enclosed and their design prevents accidental exposure.
• Class 2 lasers emit visible light, and are less than 1 milliwatt (mW) in power. Eye protection is provided by normal aversion responses such as the human blink reflex.
• Class 3R lasers have powers less than 5 mW.
• Class 3B lasers have powers from 5 to 500 mW, and produce visible or invisible light that is hazardous under direct viewing conditions. They are powerful enough to cause eye damage and may also cause skin burns.
• Class 4 lasers have a power above 500 mW and are capable of causing both eye damage and burns to the skin.
3.5. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is an international standards organisation that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies, collectively known as "electrotechnology".
3.6. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA): Is the part of the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care concerned with the safeguarding and enhancement of the health of the Australian community through effective and timely regulation of therapeutic goods.
3.7. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is the Australian Government Agency which has primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety.
4. Definition
4.1. LASER is Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, which is the means by which lasers generate visible, ultraviolet or infrared emissions.
4.2. DENTAL PRACTITIONER is a person registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency via the Board to provide dental care.
5. Last review
February 2026
6. Next review due
February 2031
This Policy Statement is linked to other Policy Statements:
5.17 Dental Records
6.1 Infection Prevention and Control
6.14 Radiation Safety