title: The effects of pulsed ultraviolet and infra-red lasers on dental enamel.
abstract: To evaluate micromorphological changes seen in enamel following irradiation with pulsed lasers, extracted human teeth were treated with a TEA-CO2, an Er:YAG and an ArF laser systems. Light and scanning electron microscopic studies demonstrate that the Er:YAG laser produces a zone of microcracks in the subsurface area. While TEA-CO2 laser irradiation results mostly in surface melting, the Er:YAG laser produces a roughened enamel surface. After ArF laser irradiation a retentive surface appears, accompanied by some melting effects and an increased porosity. The observed results of all the employed laboratory type lasers varied over a wide range due to the widespread biologic differences in tooth structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, University Dental Clinic Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frentzen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Winkelsträter
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Benthem
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Koort
mesh_terms: D001128:Argon; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004871:Erbium; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D007834:Lasers; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016062:Porosity; D011897:Random Allocation; D013499:Surface Properties; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D001128:Argon; D004871:Erbium