Open AccessReal-time near IR (1310 nm) imaging of CO_2 laser ablation of enamel
Author(s) -
Cynthia L. Darling,
Daniel Fried
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.002685
Subject(s) - materials science , ablation , enamel paint , laser , laser ablation , optics , ablation zone , impact crater , focal length , microscopy , composite material , physics , astronomy , engineering , lens (geology) , aerospace engineering
The high-transparency of dental enamel in the near-IR (NIR) can be exploited for real-time imaging of ablation crater formation during drilling with lasers. NIR images were acquired with an InGaAs focal plane array and a NIR zoom microscope during drilling incisions in human enamel samples with a lambda=9.3-microm CO(2) laser operating at repetition rates of 50-300-Hz with and without a water spray. Crack formation, dehydration and thermal changes were observed during ablation. These initial images demonstrate the potential of NIR imaging to monitor laser-ablation events in real-time to provide information about the mechanism of ablation and to evaluate the potential for peripheral thermal and mechanical damage.