title: Selective removal of carious human dentin using a nanosecond pulsed laser operating at a wavelength of 5.85 μm.
abstract: Less invasive methods for treating dental caries are strongly desired. However, conventional dental lasers do not always selectively remove caries or ensure good bonding to the composite resin. According to our previous study, demineralized dentin might be removed by a nanosecond pulsed laser operating at wavelengths of around 5.8 μm . The present study investigated the irradiation effect of the light on carious human dentin classified into "remove," "not remove," and "unclear" categories. Under 5.85-μm laser pulses, at average power densities of 30 W/cm² and irradiation time of 2 s, the ablation depth of "remove" and "not remove," and also the ablation depth of "unclear" and "not remove," were significantly different (p<0.01 ). The ablation depth was correlated with both Vickers hardness and Ca content. Thus, a nanosecond pulsed laser operating at 5.85  μm proved an effective less-invasive caries treatment.
authors.affiliation: Osaka University, Graduate School of Engineering, Building A1-411, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Osaka University, Graduate School of Engineering, Building A1-411, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.affiliation: Osaka Dental University, Department of Operative Dentistry, Hanazono-cho 8-1, Kuzuha, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1121, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: Osaka Dental University, Department of Operative Dentistry, Hanazono-cho 8-1, Kuzuha, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1121, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasuo
authors.affiliation: Osaka Dental University, Department of Operative Dentistry, Hanazono-cho 8-1, Kuzuha, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1121, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Osaka University, Graduate School of Engineering, Building A1-411, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, JapancOsaka University, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Yamadaoka 1-3, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, JapandOsaka University, The Center for Advanced.
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Awazu
mesh_terms: D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000601:surgery*; D003804:Dentin / Q000737:chemistry; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D008027:Light; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D009991:Oscillometry; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins