Abstract

Ten human third molars were used in this in vitro study to analyze the depth of dentin modification induced by a Nd:YAG laser. This technique has been used as a procedure to treat dentin hypersensitivity to air and to mechanics stimulation. Five techniques of sample preparation were used in this work but just one of them preserves the area under study for observation. The samples were irradiated with 170 mJ of energy per pulse and an average depth of 100 µm of modification of the dentin was observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

© 2001 OSA/SPIE