Objective: We investigated the main characteristics of human dental tissue under Nd:YAG picosecond laser ablation.
Summary background data: The use of ultrashort laser pulses for teeth ablation prevents overheating and is an alternative for mechanical material removal; it also minimizes the volume of damaged material.
Methods: Laser pulses of picosecond at 15 Hz repetition rates from a Q-switched and mode-locked Nd:YAG laser were focused on sound human molars for 30 seconds. Variation of light intensity in the pulse train allowed us to obtain drilled holes with different characteristics. Enamel and dentin surfaces were examined by optical and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The samples consisted of three sound human molars. The ablation rate was determined after taking an average of all samples.
Results: Images from the SEM showed an interesting contrast between the morphology of the ablated enamel and dentin regions. In enamel, the ablated region appears to be more superficial than in dentin. The dentin fragility normally causes cracks that originate in the ablated region. The ablation rates in both enamel and dentin demonstrate a saturation behavior as the laser intensity increases. Furthermore, the ablation rate in dentin is about eight times greater than in enamel for the same laser fluence.
Conclusion: Our results show an important correlation between the surface morphology and the pulsed laser fluence, which is compatible to the ablation mechanisms presented when ultrashort laser pulses are used.