engleski

Ablative Potential of the Erbium–Doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet Laser and Conventional Handpieces: A Comparative Study

Objectives: The objectives of this study were: (1) to compare the capability of enamel ablation for the Variable Square Pulse technology (VSPt) based Er:YAG laser working in maximum speed (MAX) mode, (1000 mJ/300 µ ; ; sec/20Hz), and the high-speed handpiece, (2) to compare the capability of dentin ablation for the VSPt based Er:YAG laser working in MAX mode and the low-speed handpiece, and (3) to analyze in vitro effects of Er:YAG ablation of enamel and dentine surfaces using SEM. Background Data: A VSPt based Er:YAG laser operating in MAX mode should be appropriate for achieving the maximum ablating speed in hard dental tissues. Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted on extracted human molar teeth that were cleaned and sterilized. Cavity preparations were made in hard dental tissues with the VSPt Er:YAG laser in MAX mode, high-speed handpiece in enamel and low-speed handpiece in dentin, at different time intervals. A laser triangulation profilometer was used to determine cavity volumes. The cavity surfaces of five specimens were examined by SEM. Results: The Er:YAG laser removed a 3.3 times larger volume of enamel in comparison to the high-speed handpiece, for the same period of time. In dentin, the Er:YAG laser removed 8-18 times more volume when compared to the steel bur, for the same period of time. The Er:YAG ablation rate in dentin was faster than in enamel. SEM of laser prepared cavities showed a well-defined surface, free of the smear layer. Conclusions: The VSP-technology based Er:YAG laser, working in MAX mode, is a more efficient alternative to mechanical drills for enamel and dentine ablation.

ablation; Er:YAG; profilometer; scanning electron microscopy

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