Clinical evaluation of Er:YAG laser caries treatment

To prepare the enamel, the energy used was mainly 345 mJ and repetition rate 2 Hz, for dentine the optimal energy of Er:YAG drilling machine was 200 mJ and repetition rate from 1 to 2 Hz, depending on cavity depth. Subject of treatment were caries of enamel and dentine and it was possible to remove the old insufficient fillings. The average number of pulses was 111.22, ranging from 16 to 489. During preparation, vibrations of microexplosions were felt by 8 patients, however, neither pain or unpleasant sensations were experienced. The filling materials used were composite resins and glassionomer cements. Their clinical evaluation 6 months post insertion was similar to that of the classical drilling system.