• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.558-563
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• 2000

The lasers have been used in dentistry for more than 30 years and the application of lasers for drilling dental hard tissue has been investigated since the early developement of lasers. Recently, the Er:YAG laser was invented for hard tissue ablation. The Er:YAG laser, having a wavelength of 2.94um, is highly absorbed in both water and hydroxiapatite, leading to a very effective material for hard tissue removal by bursting off the solid tissue component that is, enamel and dentin are removed by the Er :YAG laser by water vaporization and microexplosion, without any melting of inorganic tissues. Therefore, the Er:YAG laser produced round craters with well defined margins and the surrounding tissues had no cracks and no charring. When used for cavity preparation, pulpal damage should not occur if hear buildup is minimized by careful selection of exposure parameters and by use of a water spray. The present study demonstrated that the Er:YAG laser cut the tooth substance adequately for composite resin restoration, without having undesirable side effects such as harmful effects on the pulp, discoloration or cracking etc. Also, the child patients were well cooperative during laser treatment mainly because of little noise, lesser vibration and minimal pain compared to conventional means of cavity preparation.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the use of 3-dimensional (3D) laser scanning and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) as methods of root surface measurement. Materials and Methods: Thirty teeth (15 maxillary first premolars and 15 mandibular first premolars) from 8 patients who required extractions for orthodontic treatment were selected. Before extraction, pre-treatment CBCT images of all the patients were recorded. First, a CBCT image was imported into simulation software (Mimics version 15.01; Materialise, Leuven, Belgium) and the root surface area of each tooth was calculated using 3-Matic (version 7.01, Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). After extraction, all the teeth were scanned and the root surface area of each extracted tooth was calculated. The root surface areas calculated using these 2 measurement methods were analyzed using the paired t-test (P<.05). Correlations between the 2 methods were determined by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient. The intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC) was used to assess intraobserver reliability. Results: The root surface area measurements ($230.11{\pm}41.97mm^2$) obtained using CBCT were slightly greater than those ($229.31{\pm}42.46mm^2$) obtained using 3D laser scanning, but not significantly (P=.425). A high Pearson correlation coefficient was found between the CBCT and the 3D laser scanner measurements. The intraobserver ICC was 1.000 for 3D laser scanning and 0.990 for CBCT. Conclusion: This study presents a novel CBCT approach for measuring the root surface area; this technique can be used for estimating the root surface area of non-extracted teeth.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.106-120
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• 1991

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of obstruction of dentinal tubules through irradiation of the $CO_2$ laser on the dentin surface. For this study, 104 extracted caries - free premolars and molars were grinded their mesial or distal surface to expose dentin completly. And these specimens were divided into three Groups. Group I : those with their smear layer not removed and Group IT : those with their smear layer removed, were irradiated by the $CO_2$ laser(SPACE LASER - $CO_2$ VEGA 25) at five different energy levels ranging 4 - 20J/$cm^2$, and all specimens were observed with scanning eletron microscope (Hitachi S - 450). Group m was divided into 2 sub - groups: one with smear layer, another one without and those were irradiated with $CO_2$ laser of the same condition as Group I & II. All specimens were immersed in, $37^{\circ}C$, 0.5% methylene blue solution for 48 hours after 100 times of thermocycling at $4^{\circ}C$ and $60^{\circ}C$, and were observed with stereo -light microscope (Olympus SZH - ILLD) to evaluate dye penetration. The following results were obtained; 1. The dentinal tubules were obstructed through laser irradiation. 2. The dentinal tubules were still obstructed after treatment of 10% HCl/2sec., then it was proved that acid resistance of detin surface was also increased. 3. The Group of laser irradiation showed less dye penetration than control Group. 4. The smear layer hardly affected obstruction of the dentinal tubules through laser irradiation.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.522-530
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• 1996

Most dentists are very interested in laser therapy on the intraoral soft tissue lesions because they want to accomplish the analgesic and aseptic surgery with little or no bleeding. In order to determine the difference of pain threshold according to different gingival tissues with or without inflammation, 25 patients with inflammatory periodontal disease and 10 volunteers with good general and oral health were selected as the inflamed group and the normal group, respectively. Interdental papilla, marginal gingiva, attached gingiva, and alveolar mucosa were irradiated by the contact delivery($300{\mu]m$ fiber optic, for 5 seconds) of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser(EN.EL.EN06O, Italy). And the laser power was gradually increased from 0.5W by the increment of 0.1W. The highest laser power was recorded as the first painful power when the painful gesture was recognized at first. The difference of the first painful power of laser according to different gingival tissues with or without inflammation was statistically analyzed by paired t-test in MICROSTAT program. Following results were obtained: 1. In the comparison related with the inflammation, the first painful power was significantly lower in the inflamed group than in the normal group, regardless of interdental papilla and marginal gingiva(p<0.05). 2. In the comparison related with the tissue structure, the first painful. power was significantly lower in alveolar mucosa than in attached gingiva(p<0.05). The results suggest that, for the painless therapy by a pulsed-Nd:YAG laser irradiation, the laser surgery over 2.0W of power should be necessarily accomplished under the local anethesia, and the local anesthesia should be considered according to the degree of inflammation, the tissue structure, and the purpose of laser therapy.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.899-905
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• 1996

For the purpose of evaluation of microleakage of class V resin restoration, 64 extracted bovine teeth were filled with two kinds of light curing composite resins(Z-100, Clearfil) and polymerized with 40 seconds of visible light and with 10 seconds of argon laser. After 1000 thermocycling($5^{\circ}C/55^{\circ}C$), specimens were placed in 1 % methylen blue dye solution for 72 hours in $37^{\circ}C$ water bath. The specimens were sectioned at center of filling body and the degree of dye penetration was observed with a stereomicroscope. The following results were obtained, 1. Differences of the microleakage of resin restorations polymerized with 10 seconds of argon laser and 40 seconds of visible light were statistically insignificant. 2. There was more microleakage in Z-100 than clearfil and there was a statistical significancy (p<0.05).

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2003

To evaluate the quantitative nature of laser fluorescence(LF) and dye-enhanced laser fluorescence(DELF) on early enamel caries, artificial caries were induced on the bovine enamels and argon laser was irradiated on the surfaces of lesions. Fluorescence radiance from enamel specimen was recorded with CCD camera which was connected to PC image analyzing system. The difference of fluorescence of radiance(DFR) between the carious and the sound enamel in each sample of the LF and the DELF groups were measured by image analyzing program. The DFR of lesion surfaces measured with laser fluorescence and lesion depths were evaluated and the results are as follows: The caries lesions were discriminated from sound enamels by the darkness with LF and by the brightness with DELF. The DELF was more sensitive than the LF at the earlier stage of demineralization.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of EDTA and pulsed Nd :YAG laser on apical leak-age of canal obturation. Forty-eight single-rooted teeth were used in this study. The teeth were instrumented up to a size 40 K-file and irrigated with 2.5% NaOCl between each fie size. And the teeth were divided into 4 groups. In group A, the root canals were irrigated with a final flush of 5ml 2.5% NaOCl as a control group. The teeth in group B were irrigated with a final flush of 5ml 17% EDTA. The teeth in group C and D were irradiated by pulsed Nd：YAG laser(laser parameters were set at 1W, 100mJ, 10Hz, and 2W, 100mJ, 20Hz respectively). The results were as follows : 1. Apical leakage was observed in 50% of samples in group A, 30% of samples in group B, 20% of samples in group C, and 10% of samples in group D. 2. The teeth in group B had less leakage than group A, but there was no statistically significant differences(p＞0.05). 3. The teeth in group C, D had less leakage than group A, and there was statistically significant differences(p＜0.05). 4. The teeth in group C, D had less leakage than group B, but there was no statistically significant differences(p＞0.05). 5. There was no significant differences in apical leakage between group C and group D(p＞0.05).

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.62-75
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• 1998

The main purpose of this study was to compare the anticariogenecity of glass ionomer restorative material polymerized by argon laser versus visible light, The results from the present study can be summarized as follows; 1. Under the polarized light microscope, the specimens of laser-cured group showed the shallower lesion body than that of visible-light cured group, both in the stage of lesion initiation and progression. 2. Glass ionomer material cured by visible light showed shallower body of lesion than that of composite resin cured by argon laser at the stage of lesion progression(p<0.05). It was suggested fluoride released from the glass ionomer might have the additive anticariogenic effect. 3. Statistical difference between groups on depth of lesion body was evident after lesion progression (p<0.05). It was suggested that anticariogenic effect by argon laser was more effective at the stage of lesion progression than the lesion initiation. 4. The increment of lesion body during progression was highest in group IV (p<0.05). 5. Based upon the above-mentioned results of this study, it can be concluded that the advantage of anticariogenic effect and short curing time of argon laser in glass ionomer polymerization should be considered in children and adolescents whose caries activity is relatively higher.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.236-246
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• 2004

Artificial carious lesions in various depths were observed with visual examination using light transillumination, bite-wing radiography, laser fluorescence, and dye-enhanced laser fluorescence to determine the reproducibility, correlation of each diagnostic method, diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic specificity. And optical densities according to demineralized times were measured whether laser fluorescence could be used as a quantitative diagnostic method. The following results were obtained whether laser fluorescence could be used for diagnosis of initial proximal caries. 1. Tau-c values of visual examination was 0.08 which showed lowest reproducibility and those of bite-wing radiography, laser fluorescence, dye-enhanced laser fluorescence were 0.60, 0.48, and 0.64, respectively which showed relatively high reproducibility. 2. The correlation between demineralization time and each examination was the highest in dye-enhanced laser fluorescence$({\gamma}=0.51)$ followed by laser fluorescence$({\gamma}=0.43)$, bite-wing radiograph$({\gamma}=0.35)$, and visual examination$({\gamma}=0.33)$. Dye-enhanced laser fluorescence and laser fluorescence showed significant correlation with demineralization time. 3. The sensitivity of laser fluorescence and dye-enhanced laser fluorescence for diagnosing approximal caries based on bite-wing radiography were 67%, 100% and those of specificity were 57%, 11% which showed diagnostic specificity was relatively lower than sensitivity. 4. The difference in optical density(DFR) between sound teeth and carious lesions according to lesion depth was high with dye-enhanced laser fluorescence compared with laser fluorescence. DFR measured with laser fluorescence according to changes in lesion depth was statistically significant but was not statistically significant with dye-enhanced laser fluorescence. Based on these results, laser fluorescence and dye-enhanced laser fluorescence have comparable diagnostic power as bite-wing radiography in early diagnosis of proximal caries.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.234-241
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• 2011

Purpose: One of the most frequent complications related to dental implants is peri-implantitis, and the characteristics of implant surfaces are closely related to the progression and resolution of inflammation. Therefore, a technical modality that can effectively detoxify the implant surface without modification to the surface is needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of erbium-doped: yttrium, aluminium and garnet (Er:YAG) laser irradiation on the microstructural changes in double acid-etched implant surfaces according to the laser energy and the application duration. Methods: The implant surface was irradiated using an Er:YAG laser with different application energy levels (100 mJ/pulse, 140 mJ/pulse, and 180 mJ/pulse) and time periods (1 minute, 1.5 minutes, and 2 minutes). We then examined the change in surface roughness value and microstructure. Results: In a scanning electron microscopy evaluation, the double acid-etched implant surface was not altered by Er:YAG laser irradiation under the condition of 100 mJ/pulse at 10 Hz for any of the irradiation times. However, we investigated the reduced sharpness of the specific ridge microstructure that resulted under the 140 mJ/pulse and 180 mJ/pulse conditions. The reduction in sharpness became more severe as laser energy and application duration increased. In the roughness measurement, the double acid-etched implants showed a low roughness value on the valley area before the laser irradiation. Under all experimental conditions, Er:YAG laser irradiation led to a minor decrease in surface roughness, which was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The recommended application settings for Er:YAG laser irradiation on double acid-etched implant surface is less than a 100 mJ/pulse at 10 Hz, and for less than two minutes in order to detoxify the implant surface without causing surface modification.