Berg BI, et al. - In view of the observation that, in one step of the OOKP, a precise hole is created into a tooth in which an optic cylinder is subsequently inserted, a perfect watertight fit of which is requisite, researchers examined if Er: YAG laser (a part of CARLO, the first laser osteotome that enables surgical planning based on computed tomography data, robot guidance, and a precise execution of laser cuts in teeth and bone tissue, using laser photoablation rather than conventional mechanical methods) is non-inferior to a conventional drill. They grounded 32 bovine incisors to a thickness of 1.5 mm. Using dental burs of increasing diameter that were attached to a fixed drill machine, they drilled a 3.5 mm hole progressively in 16 teeth. They created a hole in the other 16 teeth using an Er: YAG laser at a wavelength of 2.94 µm (Part of CARLO). Insertion and fixation of the cylinder with polymethylmethacrylate bone cement were done in seven teeth of each group. Insertion of the cylinder without fixation material (press-fit) was done in the remaining seven teeth of each group. Until force measurements using a uniaxial traction machine, all specimens were stored in water after bonding and drying. Outcomes revealed comparable strength of laser cut holes to bur-drilled holes, although a smoother surface of the laser cut holes was evident in scanning electron microscope pictures. The possibility to custom fit the hole exactly to the width of the cylinder with laser osteotomes is thus suggested, which renders a potential advantage of the laser over the conventional bur.