Could We Set a Convenient Irradiation Time to Reduce the Possibility of Thermal Pulp Damage During Diode Laser as an...

To identify the most effective time procedure for irradiation to prevent possible harmful pulp temperature rises during diode laser (DL) as an adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP) treatment. One hundred fifty freshly extracted human teeth (30 molars, 30 premolars, 30 canines, 30 upper incisors, and 30 lower incisors) were irradiated using a 940-nm DL with a power output at 0.8 W and exposure time of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 sec per specimen. The thermocouple was used to measure intrapulpal temperature. As an addition, the impact of dark deposits on the root surface was investigated for the intrapulpal temperature rise. The threshold value of 5.6°C is predetermined to damage the pulp. Temperature variations were measured at every 10 sec for five different types of teeth, and statistical analysis was performed. Despite large differences between tooth types, the observed temperature increases for all tooth types were below the threshold of 5.6°C in 20 sec. Dark deposits on the tooth surface reduced the reliable working time of DLs (p < 0.01). DLs as an adjunct to SRP treatment at 0.8 W in molars, premolars, canine, upper incisors, and lower incisors for 42, 37, 38, 27, and 21 sec, respectively, generate acceptable temperature rises for pulp but should be changed as 39, 21, 26, 23, and 13 sec, respectively, in the presence of dark deposits.