A STUDY OF CO₂ LASER IRRADIATED DENTAL HARD TISSUES USING ELECTRON PROBE MICROANALYZER AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

CO₂레이저 조사가 치아경조직에 미치는 영향에 관한 EPMA분석 및 주사전자현미경적 연구

The purpose of this study is to obtain the data of prestep in cavity preparation by observing changed conditions of laser irradiated dental hard tissues. The forty five extracted caries free human molars were divided into three groups and each group into five subgroups. A $CO_2$ laser irradiation was performed each subgroup of group I for one second with output power of 5 W, 10 Wand 20 W. On group II, laser irradiation was done ten times for 0.1 second duration using same power ratings as group I. On group III, laser irradiation was done 0.1 second, 0.2 second and 0.4 second with output power of 50 W. We investigated mineral contents and crater wall of obtained specimens, i.e., laser irradiated teeth, using computer controlled electron probe microanalyzer and scanning electron microscope. The following results were obtained: 1. Both calcium and phosphorus contents in laser irradiated enamel crater wall were increased, and magnesium content was decreased, but these trends were not statistically significant. 2. In laser irradiated dentin, change of mineral content was more significant. 3. In laser irradiated enamel and dentin, there were no significant differences on mineral content change due to irradiation condition and energy density. 4. In scanning electron microscopic study, enamel rods of the crater wall were fused and clefts were observed in parallel with the direction of enamel rod for all groups. 5. In laser irradiated dentin, irregular fusion and clefts were observed. In irradiated teeth with high power and short duration, the locally formed narrow crater wall was observed.