Premium
Cavity preparation using a superpulsed 9.6‐μm CO 2 laser—a histological investigation
Author(s) -
Müllejans R.,
Eyrich G.,
Raab W.H.M.,
Frentzen M.
Publication year - 2002
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/lsm.10063
Subject(s) - laser , enamel paint , materials science , cavity wall , dentin , dentistry , adhesion , optics , composite material , biomedical engineering , medicine , physics
Background and Objectives The superpulsed 9.6‐μm CO 2 laser is an effective laser for ablating dental tissues and decay. This histological study compares laser class V preparations with conventional treatment to evaluate the resulting formation at the cavity walls. Study Design/Materials and Methods Four class V preparations (one made with a diamond drill and three with the CO 2 laser (9.6 μm, 60 microseconds pulse width, 40 mJ pulse energy, 100 Hz, integrated scanner system, water cooling) were performed on ten extracted teeth. The cavities were filled with a composite resin partly including enamel and dentine conditioning. Results After laser preparation, no cracks or signs of carbonisation were detected. The results were comparable to those attained with conventional treatment. Following cavity filling without prior conditioning, gaps were noted at the cavosurface indicating a lack of adhesion. Dentinal bonding decreased gap formation significantly. Conclusion The 9.6‐μm CO 2 laser is an effective tool for cavity preparation. Lasers Surg. Med. 30:331–336, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.