title: Human dental enamel and dentin structural effects after Er:YAG laser irradiation.
abstract: Ideally projected to be applied on soft tissues, infrared lasers were improved by restorative dentistry to be used in hard dental tissues cavity preparations--namely enamel and dentin. This paper evidentiates the relevant aspects of infrared Erbium laser's action mechanism and its effects, and characterizes the different effects deriving from the laser's beams emission. The criteria for use and selection of optimal parameters for the correct application of laser systems and influence of supporting factors on the process, such as water amount and its presence in the ablation process, protection exerted by the plasma shielding and structural factors, which are indispensable in dental tissues cavity preparation related to restorative technique, are subordinated to optical modifications caused by the interaction of the energy dissipated by these laser light emission systems in the targeted tissue substrate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in the action of infrared Erbium laser system in regard to the nature of the ablation process and variations on the morphological aspects observed in the superficial structure of the target tissue irradiated, may be correlated to the structural optical modifications of the substrate produced by an interaction of the energy propagated by laser systems.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Postgraduation in Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão São Luis, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Darlon Martíns
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: PhD Student, Department of Restorative Dentistry, São Paulo State University, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil e-mail: matheus.bandeca@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Mateus Rodrigues
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tonetto
authors.affiliation: Professor, Postgraduation in Dentistry, Federal University of Sergipe Aracaju, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriano Augusto Melo
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: de Mendonça
authors.affiliation: PhD Student, Department of Restorative Dentistry, São Paulo State University, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Afif
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Elossais
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry, São Paulo State University, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Roberto Cury
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry, São Paulo State University, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Ferrarezi
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Dentistry, University of Ponta grossa State Ponta grossa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Shelon Cristina Souza
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Professor, Postgraduation in Dentistry, CEUMA University, São Luis, MA Collaborate Professor, University of Cuiabé, Cuiabé, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Matheus Coelho
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bandéca
mesh_terms: D065966:Absorption, Physicochemical; D003461:Crystallography; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000379:methods; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003804:Dentin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D060733:Electromagnetic Radiation; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000737:chemistry; D011874:Radiometry; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014835:Volatilization; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D058626:Plasma Gases; D014867:Water