Laser-induced thermal events in empty and pulp-filled dental pulp chambers

✍ Scribed by Chang, Jason C.; Wilder-Smith, Petra

• Book ID: 101217729
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 80 KB
• Volume: 22
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0196-8092
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1998)22:1<46::aid-lsm11>3.0.co;2-6

✦ Synopsis

Background and Objective:

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate: 1. thermal events during laser irradiation @2.1 m of the pulp; 2. whether these effects are adequately modeled using an empty pulp chamber/root canal. Study Design/Materials and Methods: In extracted human teeth, pulpal access was prepared and thermocouples placed 2, 3 mm apical to the center of the irradiation spot. Pulp-filled or empty pulp chambers were irradiated using a Ho:YAG laser: Spot Size: 1 mm; Power: 1, 2, 3.5, 4.5W; PRR: 5, 12 Hz; Duration: 10 sec. Thermal measurements were repeated 3×. Results: Thermal trends did not differ significantly and correlated positively with power (P < 0.01), PRR (P < 0.01), irradiation duration (P < 0.05). No significant difference was determined between temperatures in empty and pulp-filled chambers at all parameters at 5 Hz and at 1-2W at 12 Hz (P < 0.05, 2-tailed Student's t-test). At 12 Hz and >3.5W, pulp chamber temperatures exceeded those in pulpal tissue (P< 0.05).