Pulsed Nd:YAG laser selective ablation of surface enamel caries: II. Histology and clinical trials

David M. Harris; Harold E. Goodis D.D.S.; Joel M. White D.D.S.; Charles J. Arcoria D.D.S.; James Simon D.D.S.; John Burkart; Michael J. Yessik; Terry D. Myers D.D.S.

doi:10.1117/12.380826

24 March 2000 Pulsed Nd:YAG laser selective ablation of surface enamel caries: II. Histology and clinical trials

David M. Harris, Harold E. Goodis D.D.S., Joel M. White D.D.S., Charles J. Arcoria D.D.S., James Simon D.D.S., John Burkart, Michael J. Yessik, Terry D. Myers D.D.S.

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3910, Lasers in Dentistry VI; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.380826
Event: BiOS 2000 The International Symposium on Biomedical Optics, 2000, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

High intensity infrared light from the pulsed Nd:YAG dental laser is absorbed by pigmented carious enamel and not absorbed by normal enamel. Therefore, this system is capable of selective removal of surface enamel caries. Safety and efficacy of the clinical procedure was evaluated in two sets of clinical trials at three dental schools. Carious lesions were randomized to drill or laser treatment. Pulp vitality, surface condition, preparations and restorations were evaluated by blinded evaluators. In Study 1 surface caries were removed from 104 third molars scheduled for extraction. One week post-treatment teeth were extracted and the pulp was examined histologically. In Study 2 90 patients with 422 lesions on 376 teeth were randomized to laser or drill and followed for six months. There were no adverse events and both clinical and histological evaluations of pulp vitality showed no abnormalities. Caries were removed in all conditions. A significantly greater number of preparations in the drill groups vs. laser groups entered dentin (drill equals 11, laser equals 1, p less than 0.001). This indicates that the more conservative laser treatment removed the caries but not the sound enamel below the lesion.

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David M. Harris, Harold E. Goodis D.D.S., Joel M. White D.D.S., Charles J. Arcoria D.D.S., James Simon D.D.S., John Burkart, Michael J. Yessik, and Terry D. Myers D.D.S. "Pulsed Nd:YAG laser selective ablation of surface enamel caries: II. Histology and clinical trials", Proc. SPIE 3910, Lasers in Dentistry VI, (24 March 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.380826

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