Premium
Morphological changes induced by short pulse hydrogen fluoride laser radiation on dental hard tissue and restorative materials
Author(s) -
Patel Bipin C. M.,
Rickwood Kenneth R.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1997)21:1<1::aid-lsm1>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - hard tissue , laser , fluoride , materials science , hydrogen fluoride , dentistry , pulse (music) , radiation , optics , medicine , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , physics , detector
Background and Objective The potential benefits of the effects of lasers on dental tissues have yet to be realized but may be brought closer through the availability of a suitable laser. The objective of this project is to examine the surface morphological changes resulting from hydrogen fluoride (HF) laser radiation on tooth and restorative material surfaces. Study design/Materials and Methods: A hydrogen fluoride laser emitting at 2.9 μm is used to interact with a range of dental hard tissue and restorative materials. The surface morphological changes induced by 100 mJ pulses of <1 μs duration is studied using a SEM. Results The irradiated surfaces displayed microstructures similar to those of a mechanically fractured surface with no evidence of melting. Conclusion This study suggests that tissue is removed by micro‐explosion, leaving a surface free from thermal damage with surface characteristics that would appear to facilitate the adhesion of restorative materials. Lasers Surg. Med. 21:1–6, 1997 © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.