title: Intrapulpar temperature during continuous CO2 laser irradiation in human molars: an in vitro study.
abstract: To establish safety parameters, we in vitro studied the increase in intrapulpal temperature caused by the use of a cw CO2 laser. A thermistor was implanted in the inner part of the pulpal chamber of 25 human lower third molars to measure the intrapulpal temperature produced by laser powers between 2-10 W and exposure times of 0.5-25.0 s. The Pearson linear correlation factor applied to the measured values showed there is a direct relationship between the independent variable and the applied power. A variance analysis produced the linear regression equation: T = 1.10 + (0.127)E where T is the temperature and E the energy. The results showed that, with a power of 4 W and maximum exposure time of 2:5 s (10 J) and a power density of 12,738.85 W cm-2, there will be no damaging reactions affecting the pulpal tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnosis and Oral Surgery of Sao Paulo State University-UNESP, School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Niccoli-Filho
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Furlani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: F V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Raldi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eduardo C de
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000528:radiation effects; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016014:Linear Models; D008963:Molar / Q000528:radiation effects*