Exogenous-Water-Induced Thermal and Mechanical Effects on Dental Hard Tissue by the Er:YAG Laser: Free-running Mode

외부의 물과 Er:YAG Laser의 작용에 의한 Dental Hard Tissue에서의 열과 역학적 효과: Free-running 방식

This study was performed to understand the exogenous-water-drop induced thermomechanical effect on the tooth in the free-running Er:YAG laser mode for the proper use of water as a laser energy absorber and coolant in dentistry. The ree-running Er:YAG laser was used in the dental hard tissue ablation study. A Microjet system was employed to dispense precise water drops. Ablation rate, recoil momentum, and temperature rise in the pulp cavity were measured with and without an exogenous water drop on the tooth surface. Exogenous water enhanced ablation rate in the thick tooth in which the ablation rate on the dry surface does not increase linearly but shows plateau. Optimal exogenous water volume was shifted from 2 nl to 4 nl as the laser energy was increased from 48 mJ to 145 mJ. The magnitude of the recoil momentum was increased as the volume of exogenous water increased. The results of this study suggest that we must pay attention to the recoil momentum or recoil pressure study or the optimal and safe usage of water in the dental treatment because these mechanical effects depend on the volume of exogenous water on the tooth surface.