title: An experimental evaluation of precision laser cutting of dental hard tissues and materials.
abstract: This paper examines the use of excimer laser radiation in the controlled removal of tooth tissue and three plastic restorative materials. Freshly extracted human third molar teeth were filled with three restorative materials and sectioned longitudinally through the restoratives. The cut surfaces of the materials and surrounding enamel and dentine were exposed to three laser energy densities and the dimensions and topographical details of the irradiated sites assessed using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the radiation produced lesions of uniformly reproducible size and shape.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials Department, Institute of Dental Surgery, London, UK.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Pearson
mesh_terms: D003188:Composite Resins / Q000528:radiation effects; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000528:radiation effects; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000379:methods*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003804:Dentin / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D003723:Dental Amalgam