title: Thermal effects on pulp due to laser and handpiece usage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was designed to compare changes in pulpal temperature during ablation of dental hard tissue while using two established erbium dental laser systems, a new CO2 laser system, and a conventional high-speed handpiece.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty non-carious human extracted molars were separated into four sample groups of 20 teeth each. Three laser systems were used, respectively, to ablate the occlusal surface of the teeth in three of the groups for 60 seconds each. The high-speed handpiece was used to drill the occlusal surface of the fourth group for 60 seconds. Pulpal temperatures were measured using thermocouples inserted into each tooth's pulpal chamber prior to ablation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the average temperature increases approached the threshold of 5.5°C at which pulpal damage begins. On average, the pulpal temperature of teeth ablated with the Waterlase MD system increased the most (3.56°C). The traditional handpiece caused the lowest average temperature increase (1.57°C), followed by the LightWalker DT system (3.20°C) and the Solea CO2 system (3.30°C).
authors.affiliation: Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Penn
authors.affiliation: Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beninati
authors.affiliation: CTufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Alissa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mariano
authors.affiliation: Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dooley
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Research Administration, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Masly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harsono
authors.affiliation: Director of the Gavel Center for Restorative Research, Associate Clinical Professor, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Professor, Associate Dean for Research, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kugel
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003754:Dental High-Speed Equipment; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D007834:Lasers; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013821:Thermometers