Free-running and Q-switched Er:YAG laser dental cavity and composite resin restoration

The results of two types of mid‐infrared Er:YAG laser intensities impacts on hard dental tissue were investigated. The Er:YAG radiation with the intensities 62 kW/cm2 or 62 MW/cm2, for the case of free‐running or Q‐switched pulses, respectively, was delivered into the interaction place by a cyclic olefin polymer‐coated silver hollow glass waveguide (700 µm inner and 850 µm outer diameter). The lens (30 mm focal length) in delivery output focused the radiation on the polished longitudinal, from 5 to 7 mm thick, extracted tooth samples. The methods were compared from the point of prepared cavity shape (SEM), inner surface, and possibility of selective removal of carries. Composite filling material was used to reconstruct the cavities. (© 2007 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA)