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Short-term histomorphological effects of Er:YAG laser irradiation to rat coronal dentin-pulp complex
Hiroshi Inoue1, Toshio Izumi, Hironobu Ishikawa
1Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontology, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan. dragonp@college.fdcnet.ac.jp
Objective:
The objective of the study was to examine the morphological changes of neural elements in dentin-pulp complex ultrastructurally after Er:YAG laser irradiation and elucidate the mechanism of pain reduction in cavity ablation.
Study Design:
The Er:YAG laser was applied at occlusal surfaces of upper and lower first molar cusps of 6 rats, and shallow cavities were ablated. The dentin and pulps were examined with light and electron microscopes at 6 hours after the irradiation. Teeth, without laser irradiation, from three rats were used as controls.
Results:
Disruption of nerve terminals in the dentinal tubules, degeneration of nerve terminals between odontoblasts, and disruption of the myelin sheath in the pulp core were demonstrated with electron microscope.
Conclusion:
Some Er:YAG laser beams could penetrate to deeper areas than ablated area, and damage of nerve fibers and terminals might be a mechanism of pain reduction in cavity ablation with Er:YAG laser.
