Er:YAG laser ablation of enamel and dentin of human teeth: determination of ablation rates at various fluences and pulse repetition rates.
A pulsed Er:YAG laser (2.94 microns) was used to determine ablation depths per pulse of laser energy at 2 Hz and 5 Hz in human teeth cross sections of enamel and dentin. Ablation depths per pulse at 2 Hz in enamel of intact human teeth were measured and compared to ablation depths per pulse determined in enamel cross sections at 2 Hz. Close correlation was observed for ablation depths per pulse of laser energy between teeth cross sections and intact teeth for enamel. Photographs of lased holes at 2 Hz and 5 Hz indicated minimal thermal effects in enamel at fluences below 80 J/cm2. Minimal thermal effects in dentin were noted below 74 J/cm2. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) pictures of lased dentin showed an irregular serrated surface. Results of this study suggest that the Er:YAG laser can effectively ablate enamel and dentin with minimal thermal effects at 2 Hz and 5 Hz.
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Biomedical Instrumentation Center, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.
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Van De Merwe
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D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000601:surgery*; D003804:Dentin / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning