By Ashley Hall
 
September 2, 2010
 
GRANTS PASS, Ore. - Low-level lasers are being used to treat a wide variety of health issues.
 
For some people, it's been a quick, successful procedure. However, not all medical professionals are convinced it works. While those who have experienced amazing results with its use are excited about the possibilities for quicker and less expensive healing, many physicians are cautiously optimistic.
 
"I had a lot of TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) pain. (I'd) seen a lot of doctors and avenues, and no relief of the pain," Patient Robin Gregory said.
 
Six months ago, Gregory decided to see a local dentist who uses innovative and somewhat controversial, laser-therapy.
 
"At this point, I don't have headaches. I still have the clicking in my jaw, but that's part of TMJ. I think with other avenues we'll eliminate that," Gregory said.
 
The low-level lasers are non-invasive and cost about the same as procedures done in a more traditional fashion. They provide relatively quick results without anesthesia.
 
"We can use the laser to do fillings. We do biopsies, we don't need to give an injection. We can do soft tissue grafts without having to do injections. We've done root canals without an injection," Dentist Dr. John Hendy said... "I thought it was voodoo, then I saw the science."
 
Dr. Hendy travels around the world, learning about laser use and developing his own.
 
"Now I'm going to Istanbul, Turkey in about a month just give my presentation on our research, which we're doing with Southern Oregon University. (We're) doing a lot of research on the effectiveness, but we're also developing a lot of new techniques here in our office," Hendy said.
 
Gregory also uses laser therapy to treat her plantar fasciitis.
 
"I've also had it done on planter fasciitis, tissue on my feet," Gregory said.
 
"They're repairing damaged heart tissue from cardiac arrest, and regenerating neural tissue," Hendy said.
 
But, the uses are still in their infancy, and many doctors are cautiously optimistic.
 
"This is the cutting edge. So in one to three years, it'll be in the journals. Right now, it's still just being presented between researchers," Hendy said.