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Effect of HeNe and pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation on intradental nerve responses to mechanical stimulation of dentine
Author(s) -
Orchardson Robert,
Whitters C. John
Publication year - 2000
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(2000)26:3<241::aid-lsm1>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - lasing threshold , stimulation , laser , irradiation , materials science , biomedical engineering , chemistry , optics , medicine , physics , nuclear physics
Background and Objective Our study aimed to determine how lasing affected intradental nerve responses to dentine stimulation. Study Design/Materials and Methods Intradental nerve activity was recorded from canine teeth of anaesthetised ferrets. Dentine exposed at the tip of the tooth was stimulated with a glass probe. After determining baseline responses to mechanical stimulation, dentine was lased using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser at 60–150mJ/pulse and 10–30 pulses/sec (total power = 0.3–3.0 W). Results The HeNe aiming beam alone and Nd:YAG laser at 0.3 W (+ HeNe) had no effect on intradental nerve responses to dentine stimulation. Lasing at 0.6–1.5 W could either enhance or suppress intradental nerve responses. Lasing at more than or equal to 2.0 W or repeated lasing at lower intensities depressed intradental nerve responses. Lasing often induced intradental nerve firing. Conclusion HeNe lasing had no effect on intradental nerve excitability. The Nd:YAG laser could depress intradental nerve responses to dentine stimulation. Lasers Surg. Med. 26:241–249, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.