Laser radiation: Some specific dental effects and an evaluation of its potential in dentistry

Abstract

Laser technology, in just five years after its birth, has opened many intriguing areas of medical research and clinical application. Preliminary tests have shown the pulsed ruby laser to have demonstrable effects on tooth structure in vivo and in vitro. In this study, several extracted noncarious maxillary incisors were prepared for enamel and dentin laser irradiation. An Ivorine Dentoform tooth was also irradiated. The apparatus employed was a focused, pulsed ruby laser head with a 2,000 joule power supply. After lasing, the samples were examined grossly and microscopically: 1. Enamel exhibited gross cratering from 0.1 to 1.1 mm. deep, depending on the amount of energy delivered to the target area. In dentin-deep enamel penetrations, a dark speckling of the exposed dentin subjacent to the lased enamel was observed. Examination under polarized light strongly suggested the presence of laser-induced crystallographic changes in the enamel bordering the enamel craters. 2. Dentin laser impacts yielded shallow, irregular craters less than 0.1 mm. deep. Three distinct zones of dentinal destruction were revealed: (a) a central zone of complete dentinal destruction; (b) an immediately surrounding zone of partial dentinal destruction; and (c) a scattered zone of dark speckling beyond the first two zones. 3. Lased Ivorine demonstrated the mildest effect, showing only surface irregularities. Suggestions are presented for possible future applications of the laser, as the state of the art of laser technology advances. Laser radiation offers exciting possibilities in dental research, oral tumor management, instrumentation, and precision techniques in restorative and prosthetic dentistry. Though laser researchers are presently too committed to the advancement of the state of the art to divert their attention to practical applications, this should not discourage dental investigators from uncovering further the laser's applicability to dentistry.