Laser dentistry: A new application of excimer laser in root canal therapy

We report the first study of the application of excimer lasers in dentistry for the treatment of dental root canals. High‐energy ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted by an XeCl excimer laser (308 nm) and delivered through suitable optical fibers can be used to remove residual organic tissue from the canals. To this aim, UV ablation thresholds of dental tissues have been measured, showing a preferential etching of infiltrated dentin in respect to healthy dentin, at laser fluences of 0.5–1.5 J/cm2. This technique has been tested on extracted tooth samples, simulating a clinical procedure. Fibers of decreasing core diameters have been used to treat different sections of the root canal down to its apical portion, resulting in an effective, easy, and fast cleaning action. Possible advantages of excimer laser clinical applications in respect to usual procedures are also discussed.

[1]  Donald L. Singleton,et al.  Excimer laser angioplasty: Tissue ablation, arterial response, and fiber optic delivery , 1987 .

[2]  J Melcer,et al.  Latest treatment in dentistry by means of the CO2 laser beam , 1986, Lasers in surgery and medicine.

[3]  S. Trokel,et al.  Excimer laser surgery of the cornea. , 1983, American journal of ophthalmology.

[4]  K L Zakariasen,et al.  Lasers in dentistry. "Star wars". Dreaming or a future reality? , 1988, Journal.

[5]  J. Melcer,et al.  Treatment of dental decay by CO2 laser beam: Preliminary results , 1984, Lasers in surgery and medicine.

[6]  H. Schaefer,et al.  CO2 laser surgery of oral premalignant lesions. , 1986, International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

[7]  Leon Goldman,et al.  Current laser dentistry , 1987, Lasers in surgery and medicine.

[8]  J Melcer,et al.  Dental pulp exposed to the CO2 laser beam , 1987, Lasers in surgery and medicine.

[9]  R Salimbeni,et al.  Optical fiber transmission of high power excimer laser radiation. , 1987, Applied optics.

[10]  K L Zakariasen,et al.  Bactericidal action of carbon dioxide laser radiation in experimental dental root canals. , 1986, Canadian journal of microbiology.

[11]  W S Grundfest,et al.  Pulsed laser angioplasty: Wavelength power and energy dependencies relevant to clinical application , 1988, Lasers in surgery and medicine.