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Argon laser oral safety parameters for teeth
G L Powell1, T H Morton, B K Whisenant
1University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84132.
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Argon laser irradiation shows potential for dental applications like caries prevention. Safety studies indicate no significant enamel or pulpal damage at energy densities suitable for intraoral use.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Dental Materials Science
- Laser Dentistry
Background:
- Argon lasers show promise in preventing enamel demineralization and polymerizing dental composites.
- Establishing safety parameters for intraoral argon laser use is crucial before clinical trials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine enamel damage, pulp temperature changes, and pulpal tissue damage from intraoral argon laser irradiation.
- To assess safety parameters for argon laser applications in dentistry.
Main Methods:
- In vivo irradiation of dogs' teeth followed by histological analysis for pulpal damage.
- Ex vivo irradiation of human and dog teeth to measure pulp temperature changes and evaluate enamel surface damage.
- Utilized various argon laser energy levels (1.6-6.0 watts) and beam parameters (0.2-5.0 seconds).
Main Results:
- Histologic pulpal damage was observed at energy densities exceeding 600 J/cm2.
- Pulp temperature increases were less than 6 degrees F in human teeth at approximately 900 J/cm2.
- No enamel damage was detected at energy densities suitable for proposed dental applications.
Conclusions:
- Argon laser irradiation at energy densities required for dental composite polymerization and caries prevention is safe for enamel and pulp.
- The study establishes safety parameters for intraoral argon laser use, supporting future clinical investigations.