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Noncontact Er:YAG laser ablation: clinical evaluation
T Dostálová1, H Jelínková, H Kucerová
1Institute of Dental Research, Prague, Czech Republic. dostalova@vus.cz
Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine & Surgery
|January 20, 1999
Summary
Laser ablation offers comparable filling material retention and quality to traditional dental drilling. While laser preparation creates irregular cavities, it provides microretentive surfaces for durable restorations.
Area of Science:
- Dental Materials Science
- Laser Dentistry
- Minimally Invasive Dentistry
Background:
- Traditional dental cavity preparation relies on mechanical drilling, which can cause microfractures and affect restoration longevity.
- Laser technology offers a potential alternative for cavity preparation with potential benefits for tissue preservation and restoration quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the quality of cavity preparation using Er:YAG laser ablation versus classical drilling.
- To evaluate the impact of laser ablation on the retention and quality of dental filling materials.
Main Methods:
- Er:YAG laser system with specific parameters (300-350 micron spot size, 1-4 Hz, 100-400 mJ, water spray) used for cavity preparation.
- Evaluation of cavity shape, preparation time, and filling material retention using U.S. Public Health Service criteria.
- Assessment of noncontact Er:YAG ablation quality.
Main Results:
- Laser ablation produced irregular cavity shapes with larger surface areas and microretentive properties.
- Effective removal of caries from enamel and dentin, and old fillings (excluding amalgam/metal).
- High stability of filling materials in laser cavities, though 82-86% showed marginal discoloration; 4-8% exhibited tooth color/form changes.
Conclusions:
- Er:YAG laser ablation provides comparable or very similar retention and quality of filling materials to classical dental drilling.
- Laser preparation may offer advantages in micro-retention, but marginal discoloration warrants further investigation.
