[Thermal effects in the dental pulp caused by laser radiation from various laser types]

In this in vitro study the temperature rises occurring in the dental pulp during laser irradiation were measured. Infrared laser radiation (CO2 and Nd: YAG) had great thermal effects on the pulp tissues. At an average power output level of 5 W temperature rises of approx. 40 degrees C within 100 s were observed. The effect of a cooling system was negligible. Radiation from an ArF excimer laser (193 nm) at an average output of 5 W caused only slight thermal changes, when an airstream was used to remove the fragments of photoablative decomposition of the dental tissues. The temperature in the pulp chamber increased by approx. 5 degrees C after 6 min. This result leads to the conclusion that only ArF excimer lasers may be effectively used in the mouth without producing inacceptable thermal effects in the dental pulp.