THE CO2-LASER AS AN AID IN DIRECT PULP CAPPING

Two hundred direct pulp capping procedures were conducted in the prese nt study, One hundred of them were performed with the CO2 laser, and 1 00 were conducted conventionally as a control by using a calcium hydro xide preparation, Follow-up examinations were performed after 1 wk and monthly for 12 months after treatment, Thermal tests were used for vi tality assessments and laser Doppler flowmetry for direct measurement of pulpal blood, In the group of pulps treated with the CO2 laser, the last recall examination at 12 months demonstrated that 89 teeth remai ned vital, corresponding to a success rate of 89%, In the control grou p, the success rate was considerably lower (68%), Exposure sizes and m ean patient age were nearly identical in both groups, The CO2 laser se ems to be a valuable aid in direct pulp capping.