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Image‐Guided Ablation of Dental Calculus From Root Surfaces Using a DPSS Er:YAG Laser
Author(s) -
Fried William A.,
Chan Kenneth H.,
Darling Cynthia L.,
Curtis Donald A.,
Fried Daniel
Publication year - 2020
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.23122
Subject(s) - cementum , root canal , ablation , laser , er:yag laser , materials science , dentin , laser ablation , optical coherence tomography , calculus (dental) , dentistry , biomedical engineering , optics , composite material , medicine , physics
Background and Objectives Recent studies have demonstrated that near‐infrared (IR) imaging can be used to acquire high‐contrast images of root caries and calculus on the root surfaces of extracted teeth at wavelengths longer than 1450 nm. The purpose of this study was to determine if image‐guided laser ablation can be used to selectively remove calculus from tooth surfaces with minimal damage to the underlying sound cementum and dentin. Materials and Methods In this study, sequential near‐IR images at 1500–1700 nm were used to guide a diode‐pumped (DPSS) Er:YAG laser for the removal of calculus from the root surfaces of 10 extracted teeth. The selectivity of removal was assessed using digital microscopy, optical coherence tomography, and surface profilometry. Results Calculus was removed rapidly with minimal damage to the underlying sound cementum and dentin. Image‐guided ablation achieved high‐selectivity, the mean volume of calculus removal was more than 27 times higher than the mean loss of cementum. Conclusions We have demonstrated that near‐IR image‐guided laser ablation can be used for the selective removal of calculus from root surfaces ex vivo . Additionally, we have demonstrated that a diode‐pumped solid‐state Er:YAG laser is well suited for selective removal. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.