Temperature changes in the deciduous pulp chamber during cavity preparation with the Er:YAG laser.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the temperature changes in the pulp chambers of deciduous molars during cavity preparation with an Er:YAG (erbium substituted: yttrium aluminium garnet) laser.


METHODS
Two cavities were prepared in 14 maxillary deciduous molars: one with the Er:YAG laser and other with a diamond bur using a high-speed handpiece (control), providing 4 groups with 7 cavities each. The laser treatment was applied for 30 seconds (group 1) and 60 seconds (group 3). The internal pulp temperature was recorded during preparation procedures with a thermocouple, and temperature changes were calculated by the difference between the maximum and initial temperature.


RESULTS
There were significant differences (P<.01) between Er:YAG laser irradiation for 60 seconds and 30 seconds and the 2 high-speed drilling groups, which were similar. The Er:YAG laser used for 60 seconds provided the highest temperature alteration (4.01 degrees C).


CONCLUSIONS
Er:YAG laser irradiation increased the temperature of the deciduous teeth compared to the high-speed drilling treatment. The temperature increments, however, remained below the critical value (5.5 degrees C).
Castilho
Mariana Silvério
MS
Department of Dentistry, University of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
de Souza-Gabriel
Aline Evangelista
AE
Marchesan
Melissa Andrea
MA
Floriam
Luis José
LJ
Sousa-Neto
Manoel Damião
MD
Correa Silva-Sousa
Yara Teresinha
YT
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001831:Body Temperature; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003755:Dental High-Speed Technique; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008963:Molar; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000502:physiology*