A laser-abrasive method for the cutting of enamel and dentin.
OBJECTIVE
This paper introduced a new method for the removal of hard dental tissue based upon the use of particles accelerated by laser irradiation, which the authors have called the laser-abrasive method.


METHODS
The particles used were sapphire as powder or an aqueous suspension. The effect of the products of enamel ablation was also investigated. The particles were accelerated using submillisecond pulses of Er:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers. A strobing CCD camera was used to measure the speed of the ejected particles. The additional contribution of these particles to the efficiency of laser ablation of enamel and dentin was also investigated.


RESULTS
The results showed that the enamel particles produced by the beam-tissue interaction were also accelerated by this process of ablation and were effective in the removal of enamel and dentin. The use of an aqueous suspension of sapphire particles increased the efficiency of enamel removal threefold when compared with the use of an Er:YAG laser with water spray.


CONCLUSIONS
The laser-abrasive method allowed for the removal of enamel and dentin at speeds approaching those of the high-speed turbine.
Altshuler
G B
GB
Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics, Department of Quantum Electronics and Bio-Medical Optics, 14 Sablinskaya st., Saint Petersburg, 197101, Russia.
Belikov
A V
AV
Sinelnik
Y A
YA
D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003804:Dentin / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017886:Durapatite; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*
D017886:Durapatite