[Clinical evaluation of the GaALAs laser treatment for hypersensitive dentin]

The methods available for treatment of hypersensitive dentin include the application of heavy metal salts such as diamine silver fluoride to the tooth, iontophoresis, Hyper-Band patching and restoration with various filling materials following cavity lining. Laser beam therapy, which has recently been used in dental treatment, is also expected to be applied to the treatment of hypersensitive dentin. In the present study, we obtained interesting results from the clinical use of a GaAlAs semiconductor Laser (Semilaser Nanox LX-800, GC Co.). The subjects were 63 patients with hypersensitive dentin: 8 patients without the exposed root, 40 with the exposed root, 21 treated with filling materials, 5 given Hyper-Band treatment, 14 with wedge-shaped defect, attrition or abrasion, and one with primary caries. Twenty-six fell into two or more categories. The effect of treatment was assessed by a single examiner in order to minimize error of estimates. Each lesion was directly irradiated for less than 3 minutes, and assessment of the result was conducted according to the criteria and method of Suzuki and Ishikawa. The results were as follows: The treatment was markedly effective in 44 (69.8%), effective in 12 (19.0%) and not effective in 7 (11.1%) of 63 patients. No case of exacerbation was found. The efficacy rate was 88.9%.