Effects of nanosecond pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation on dentin resistance to artificial caries-like lesions

✍ Scribed by Kimura, Yuichi; Wilder-Smith, Petra; Arrastia-Jitosho, Anna Marle A.; Liaw, Lih-Huei L.; Matsumoto, Koukichi; Berns, Michael W.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 988 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0196-8092
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1997)20:1<15::aid-lsm3>3.0.co;2-1

✦ Synopsis

Background and objective:

Previous investigations have demonstrated improved enamel caries resistance after laser irradiation. in this study, effects of nanosecond pulsed nd:yag laser irradiation on crown/root dentin susceptibility to caries-like lesions were investigated.

Study design/materials and methods:

Extracted human molar teeth were irradiated using a q-switched nanosecond pulsed nd:yag laser. all teeth except controls were irradiated at: fluence, 1 or 5 j/cm2; spot size, 3 mm; and then subjected to demineralization. measurements of caries lesion depth using scattering light microscopy and sem were performed.

Results:

Lesion depth measurements did not differ significantly between controls and irradiated samples (p < 0.01), but sem results showed some irradiation-induced alterations on crown and root dentin surfaces. irradiated surfaces were partially melted, with sometimes narrowed or occluded tubules.

Conclusion:

No consistent caries-protective effect of q-switched nanosecond pulsed nd:yag laser irradiation on crown and root dentin was determined, but laser-induced morphological changes were observed.