Real-time near IR (1310 nm) imaging of CO2 laser ablation of enamel.
The high-transparency of dental enamel in the near-IR (NIR) can be exploited for real-time imaging of ablation crater formation during drilling with lasers. NIR images were acquired with an InGaAs focal plane array and a NIR zoom microscope during drilling incisions in human enamel samples with a lambda=9.3-microm CO(2) laser operating at repetition rates of 50-300-Hz with and without a water spray. Crack formation, dehydration and thermal changes were observed during ablation. These initial images demonstrate the potential of NIR imaging to monitor laser-ablation events in real-time to provide information about the mechanism of ablation and to evaluate the potential for peripheral thermal and mechanical damage.
Darling
Cynthia L
CL
Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry, CA 94143-0758, USA. cynthia.darling@ucsf.edu
Fried
Daniel
D
D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000009:adverse effects; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared