title: Pulpal effects of argon: fluoride excimer laser irradiation and acid-etching of rat molar enamel.
abstract: The reaction of enamel, dentine and pulpal tissues to exposure from a laser beam has been shown to depend on the type of laser medium used. The objective of this study was to examine the pulpal response in rat molars after external enamel surface treatment with either an Ar:F excimer laser or acid-gel application. Maxillary right molar occlusal surfaces in 22 animals were irradiated (energy density = 45.0 J/cm2). Maxillary left molar occlusal surfaces were treated with 37 per cent phosphoric acid for 30 s. Untreated mandibular right molars served as controls. At two postoperative time periods (1 and 6 weeks), molars were removed, sectioned, stained (H&E) and scored. Data analysis indicated no significant difference between Ar:F irradiation and controls at 1 week. Treatment with laser or acid-etching left a similar degree of pathosis at 1 and 6 weeks. Although the Ar:F excimer laser produced a more exaggerated pulp response than controls at 6 weeks, tissue vitality was maintained. The Ar:F excimer laser may be useful for ablating vital tooth structure since pulpal tissue in rat molars exhibited no damage in response to low-power irradiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas 75246.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Arcoria
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lippas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Speros
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D000818:Animals; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000473:pathology; D003804:Dentin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D003809:Dentin, Secondary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008028:Light Coagulation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010756:Phosphoric Acids