title: Effect of ArF-193 nm excimer laser on human dentinal tubules. A scanning electron microscopic study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the ArF-193 nm excimer laser on the dentinal tubules of extracted human teeth under a scanning electron microscope. Fifteen 3 mm thick slices were cut with an electric saw at the cementoenamel junction from 15 extracted human teeth. A diamond bur was used to remove the cementum layer and expose the dentinal tubules. Each slice was scored by a permanent marker into four equal quadrants. The ArF excimer laser was applied for 5 seconds on three of the quadrants with fluences that ranged from 0.2 J/cm2 to 15 J/cm2 and pulse repetition of 25 Hz. The untouched quadrant served as a control. The specimens were mounted on stubs, sputter coated by gold, and examined by a scanning electron microscope. The effects of the ArF excimer laser irradiation varied. Laser fluences of 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 J/cm2 had no effect. Although fluence of 15 J/cm2 caused significant removal of peritubular dentin, melting and resolidification of the dentinal smear layer was also observed under the scanning electron microscope with a laser fluence of 5 J/cm2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Hebrew University-Hadassah, School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stabholz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neev
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Liaw
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stabholz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khayat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torabinejad
mesh_terms: D001128:Argon; D003804:Dentin / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016369:Smear Layer; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D001128:Argon