Thermal effects of CO2 laser on the pulpal chamber and enamel of human primary teeth: An in vitro investigation

✍ Scribed by Anna Marie A. Arrastia; Petra Wilder-Smith; Michael W. Berns

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 632 KB
• Volume: 16
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0196-8092
• DOI: 10.1002/lsm.1900160405

✦ Synopsis

Background and Objective: Thermal effects of direct exposure of the pulp chamber to C 0 2 laser irradiation were evaluated and potentially safe parameters for its clinical application were determined. Study DesignfMaterials and Methods: Using conventional methods, the pulp chambers of freshly extracted primary cuspids were exposed and then subjected to CO, laser irradiation at the following parameters: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, and 20 Watts power settings; 0.76 mm diameter spot size; total energy densities between 61,058 J/cm2; exposure time between .OM30 s. Exposures in the continuous wave mode were performed in some specimens. In others, single firings of a .01 s pulse duration and a 1 s pulse interval were conducted. Temperature measurements were conducted using a thermocouple and thermal camera. Results: Significant statistical differences in maximum temperature rise on enamel were observed in groups that received total energy densities 28 J/cm2 (P 5 0.01); within the pulp chambers these were observed in groups that used 244 J/cm2 (P 5 0.01). Conclusion: Parameters appropriate for pulpotomy were observed at energy densities up to 176 J/cm2 in the continuous wave mode and 264 J/cm2 using single pulses, wherein temperature rises below 5.5% were recorded on tooth surface.