Output energy changes of quartz contact probe for Er:YAG laser with tooth ablation.
The purpose of this study was to examine the output energy changes of the contact probe for Er:YAG laser with tooth ablation and evaluate the effect of contact surface polishing on output energy. The Er:YAG laser was irradiated to enamel of extracted human incisors for 100 min (5 min x 20 times). The output energy of contact probes was measured every 5 min (n = 3). After 100 min, the contact surfaces were polished using silicon carbide paper up to #1500, and the output energy of the probe was measured. The contact surfaces of the probes were observed and analyzed using an EPMA. After 100 min, the output energy showed 49.4% of the energy of an unused probe. After the contact surfaces were polished to #1500, the output energy returned to 96.4% of baseline. It is suggested that the output energy of the contact probe decreased with tooth ablation, and polishing of the contact surface was effective to regain the energy.
Yamazaki
Koichiro
K
Department of Endodontics and Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry at Tokyo, Nippon Dental University, 2-3-16 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, 102-8158 Japan.
Eguro
Toru
T
Maeda
Toru
T
Tanaka
Hisayoshi
H
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic / Q000737:chemistry; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000601:surgery; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D004735:Energy Transfer; D004871:Erbium; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D011791:Quartz / Q000737:chemistry*; D012825:Silicon / Q000032:analysis; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors; D015019:Yttrium
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D011791:Quartz; D010758:Phosphorus; D015019:Yttrium; D004871:Erbium; D002118:Calcium; C022088:silicon carbide; D012825:Silicon