A clinical evaluation of an Erbium : YAG laser for dental cavity preparation

Objective A randomised controlled trial to determine the acceptability to d entists and patients of cavity preparation with an Erbium:YAG laser as comp ared with conventional handpieces. Methods Fifteen dentists (9 GDPs, 1 community dentist and 5 hospital dentis ts) treated 77 patients (age range 3.5-68 years old) who had two matched ca vities, in a split mouth, randomised trial. One cavity was prepared convent ionally, the other with the laser, with dentist and patient preference dete rmined by questionnaire. Results In the majority of cases, where dentists expressed a preference, it was for conventional cavity preparation, and this was significant (P < 0.0 01). In more than half of the laser appointments, dentists had to use conve ntional handpieces to complete the cavity. Principle difficulties reported with the laser were access (25 cases) and slow speed of cutting (11 cases). Patients aged greater than or equal to 10 years who expressed a preference , preferred laser treatment, and this was significant (P < 0.001). Patients aged <10 years, assessed using a simplified pictorial questionnaire, did n ot show a significant preference for either technique. Conclusions Dentists preferred conventional handpieces for cavity preparati on while patients aged greater than or equal to 10 years old preferred lase r treatment. Patients <10 years old did not express a preference.