Temperature rises during application of Er:YAG laser under different primary dentin thicknesses

Area of Science:

• Dental research
• Laser dentistry
• Biomaterials science

Background:

• The Er:YAG laser is utilized in restorative dentistry for treating dental caries.
• Research indicates its significant role in temperature elevation during dentin application.
• Understanding these thermal effects is crucial for clinical safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of varying Er:YAG laser pulse repetition rates on temperature rise.
• To analyze these effects across different primary dentin thicknesses.

Main Methods:

• Dentin discs (0.5-2 mm thick) from primary molars were used.
• Irradiation was performed using an Er:YAG laser at 10, 15, and 20 Hz (12.7 J/cm², 230 μs pulse duration) for 30 seconds.
• Temperature changes were recorded using thermocouples and data loggers.

Main Results:

• The lowest temperature rise (0.44±0.09 °C) occurred at 10 Hz and 2 mm dentin thickness.
• The highest temperature rise (3.86±0.43 °C) was observed at 20 Hz and 0.5 mm dentin thickness.

Conclusions:

• Even at high repetition rates, the Er:YAG laser did not induce critical temperature increases for pulpal injury.
• Dentin thickness significantly influences the temperature rise during Er:YAG laser irradiation.