title: Preliminary in vitro investigation of the effects of pulsed Nd:YAG laser radiation on enamel and dentine.
abstract: Data available on the effects of pulsed near IR laser energy on dental hard tissue are limited. This study investigates the changes in dental hard tissue when exposed to short duration, pulsed IR wavelength laser light emitted from a Neodymium Yttrium Aluminium Garnet laser (Nd:YAG laser, wavelength 1.06 microns). The results showed that, after treatment with an initiator, there was superficial melting of the enamel. Dentine was altered substantially. The lesions produced in dentine were larger than the cross-section of the delivery fibre optic wand. Considerable inter-sample variation was observed. The temperature rises producing these effects were large and affected the tissue at a distance from the tip.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials Department, Institute of Dental Surgery, London, UK.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003804:Dentin / Q000293:injuries / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007259:Infrared Rays; D007834:Lasers; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000528:radiation effects; D009354:Neodymium; D013696:Temperature; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000528:radiation effects; D015019:Yttrium
chemical_list: D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium; D000535:Aluminum