engleski

ER:YAG Laser in restorative dentistry

The primary emphasis of utilizing lasers only on soft tissue was changed in 1997 with FDA safety clearance for the use of erbium:YAG laser on hard tissues such as enamel, cementum and bone. Er:YAG laser (2, 940 nm), which is absorbed by water approximately 10 times more than the CO2 laser, has attracted attention because of the possibility of cutting hard tissues such as bone or teeth with extremely small thermal injuries. In clinical practice Er:YAG was used to prepare cavities on premolars and molars using the energies of 260-400 mJ and frequencies from 10-25 Hz for enamel, and 200-340 mJ with 5-20 Hz for dentine. Cavities in hard dental tissues were prepared using very short pulse (VSP) contact mode. Caries was removed with energies ranging from 200-340 mJ and frequencies between 5 and 25 Hz, using contact mode with short pulse (SP). Composite fillings were removed using non-contact mode. It was essential to use a water spray to wet the surface during laser radiation to achieve maximum efficiency of tissue removal with minimal heat generation. After irradiation the cavity edges are left with an acid-etched appearance, which enhances the bond strength when composite resin was used. Vitality of all treated teeth was tested after 24 hours, seven days and one and six months after procedure. All of them maintained normal reactivity to cold stimuli.

Er:YAG laser

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