LASER DESTRUCTION OF A DEMINERALIZED DENTIN

First results of the experimental study of destruction of dentine of e xtracted human teeth with various degrees of demineralization simulati ng caries damage of the tissue by picosecond pulses of a Nd : YAG lase r (lambda = 1.064 mu m) and submillisecond pulses of a Er : YAG laser (lambda = 2.94 mu m) are presented. The destruction thresholds and the efficiencies of removal of the dentine material in the processing of a laser hollow, with radiation from these lasers, are measured.