title: Pulpal response to cavity preparation with the Er:YAG and Mark III free electron lasers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the pulp response to class V cavity preparation with the use of the Er:YAG laser and free electron laser.
  
  
  METHODS
  Class V cavities were prepared in 133 teeth of four beagle dogs by one of three methods: (1) Er:YAG laser, (2) free electron laser, (3) high-speed handpiece. Treatment occurred at 1 hour, 1 day, 7 days, and 28 days. The teeth were removed and the pulp evaluated. Histologically, the data were evaluated with Mantel-Haenszel analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Er:YAG laser, free electron laser, and handpiece treatment groups resulted in specimens with normal or mild pulp reactions in 36, 46, and 42 teeth, respectively; moderate or severe reactions were observed in 7, 1, and 1 teeth, respectively. No statistically significant difference in the pulp response to the three treatment modalities was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pulp response to Er:YAG laser and free electron laser application would appear to be similar to the response from high-speed handpiece application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Sonntag
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klitzman
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Burkes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moshonov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004285:Dogs; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis