HISTOLOGIC EFFECTS OF A THERMALLY COOLED ND - YAG LASER ON THE DENTAL-PULP AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURES OF RABBIT TEETH

The histologic response of the pulp, periapical tissues, supporting pe riodontal ligament, and alveolar bone adjacent to the incisor teeth of adult rabbits was compared after laser treatment (etching) or drillin g with a high-speed dental rotary handpiece (enamelplasty) on the bucc al enamel surface. Observations were made at four time periods, 2 days , 14 days, 60 days, and 180 days after treatment. Block sections were removed, and serial sections were prepared and examined by an independ ent veterinary pathologist for occurrences of histopathologic changes with untreated control teeth used for comparison. Under the conditions of this study, there were no differences between either the laser-tre ated or the drilled specimens compared with the untreated control teet h on the basis of the histologic appearance.