Study of the morphological alterations to enamel and dentin in human and bovine teeth after irradiation with Er:YAG laser

✍ Scribed by C. R. Fontana; D. A. M. P. Malta; U. F. Fontana; J. E. C. Sampaio; V. L. Bernardes; M. F. de Andrade

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 255 KB
• Volume: 1
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1612-2011
• DOI: 10.1002/lapl.200410092

✦ Synopsis

Objective: The purpose of this study is to
make use of scanning electron microscopy in order to comparatively
analyze the morphological alterations to human and bovine enamel
and dentin. Earlier data: Many a morphological study
involving Er:YAG laser can be found in the literature. Still, not
a single study comparing the effects of this infrared laser in
human and bovine teeth has been reported. Materials and
Methods: Thirty-two slices of human and bovine enamel and dentin
were evenly divided into four groups. With the exception of the
control group, the samples were irradiated with Er:YAG laser,
focused at a distance of 12 mm and 10-hertz frequency, with 150,
250, and 350 mJ of output energy per pulse for 10 seconds. After
irradiation all specimens were observed under a scanning electron
microscope. Results: There was practically no
morphological difference for those samples that underwent the 150
mJ/pulse irradiation. The dentin exposed to 250 mJ had few open
dentinal tubules. These were seen in enamel after a 350 mJ
irradiation, in which the energy was able to reach the dentin.
Conclusions: The breadth of this study allows us to state
that the pattern between the species grew more heterogeneous as
the energy density was increased and that irradiation with 150
mJ/pulse resulted in greater likeness in human and bovine enamel
and dentin.