High-speed scanning ablation of dental hard tissues with a λ = 9.3 μm CO2 laser: adhesion, mechanical strength, heat accumulation, and peripheral thermal damage

Daniel Nguyen; Kwang Chang; Saba Hedayatollahnajafi; Michal Staninec; Kenneth H. Chan; Robert Lee; Daniel Fried

doi:10.1117/1.3603996

1 July 2011 High-speed scanning ablation of dental hard tissues with a λ = 9.3 μm CO₂ laser: adhesion, mechanical strength, heat accumulation, and peripheral thermal damage

Daniel Nguyen, Kwang Chang, Saba Hedayatollahnajafi, Michal Staninec, Kenneth H. Chan, Robert Lee, Daniel Fried

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Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 16, Issue 7, 071410 (July 2011). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3603996

Abstract

CO₂ lasers can be operated at high laser pulse repetition rates for the rapid and precise removal of dental decay. Excessive heat accumulation and peripheral thermal damage is a concern when using high pulse repetition rates. Peripheral thermal damage can adversely impact the mechanical strength of the irradiated tissue, particularly for dentin, and reduce the adhesion characteristics of the modified surfaces. The interpulpal temperature rise was recorded using microthermocouples situated at the roof of the pulp chamber on teeth that were occlusally ablated using a rapidly-scanned CO₂ laser operating at 9.3 μm with a pulse duration of 10 to 15 μs and repetition rate of 300 Hz over a 2 min time course. The adhesion strength of laser treated enamel and dentin surfaces was measured for various laser scanning parameters with and without post-ablation acid etching using the single-plane shear test. The mechanical strength of laser-ablated dentin surfaces were determined via the four-point bend test and compared to control samples prepared with 320 grit wet sand paper to simulate conventional preparations. Thermocouple measurements indicated that the temperature remained below ambient temperature if water-cooling was used. There was no discoloration of either dentin or enamel laser treated surfaces, the surfaces were uniformly ablated, and there were no cracks visible. Four-point bend tests yielded mean mechanical strengths of 18.2 N (s.d. = 4.6) for ablated dentin and 18.1 N (s.d. = 2.7) for control (p > 0.05). Shear tests yielded mean bond strengths approaching 30 MPa for both enamel and dentin under certain irradiation conditions. These values were slightly lower than nonirradiated acid-etched control samples. Additional studies are needed to determine if the slightly lower bond strength than the acid-etched control samples is clinically significant.

©(2011) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

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Daniel Nguyen, Kwang Chang, Saba Hedayatollahnajafi, Michal Staninec, Kenneth H. Chan, Robert Lee, and Daniel Fried "High-speed scanning ablation of dental hard tissues with a λ = 9.3 μm CO₂ laser: adhesion, mechanical strength, heat accumulation, and peripheral thermal damage," Journal of Biomedical Optics 16(7), 071410 (1 July 2011). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3603996

Published: 1 July 2011

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