Subsurface morphologic changes of ND:YAG laser-etched enamel

✍ Scribed by Hess, John A.

• Book ID: 101217492
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 412 KB
• Volume: 21
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0196-8092
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1997)21:2<193::aid-lsm11>3.0.co;2-g

✦ Synopsis

Background and objective:

Etching the enamel surface with a nd:yag dental laser produces impact craters with cavities, micropores, and microfissures. this in vitro sem study examined laser-etched enamel to determine the pattern and extent of subsurface changes.

Study design/materials and methods:

The facial surface of 10 maxillary central incisor teeth were coated with a black initiator and laser-etched with a pulsed nd:yag laser (1.06 lambda, 75 mj, 15 hz, 320 microns fiber, 94 j/cm2 fluence). the facial surface of five teeth were plastic-embedded under a low vacuum, then demineralized in 10% formic acid. the other teeth were split incisoapically. all samples were prepared for sem.

Results:

Examination of the plastic impressions showed a delicate interlacing pattern of thin partitions and small knob-like expansions. examination of the split teeth showed the penetration of microfissures into the enamel estimated at 10 microns.

Conclusion:

These subsurface alterations may provide space for the infiltration and mechanical retention of dental resin.