MORPHOLOGICAL-CHANGES INDUCED BY SHORT-PULSE HYDROGEN-FLUORIDE LASER-RADIATION ON DENTAL HARD-TISSUE AND RESTORATIVE MATERIALS

Background and Objective: The potential benefits of the effects of las ers on dental tissues have yet to be realized but may be brought close r through the availability of a suitable laser. The objective of this project is to examine the surface morphological changes resulting from hydrogen fluoride (HF) laser radiation on tooth and restorative mater ial surfaces. Study design/Materials and Methods: A hydrogen fluoride laser emitting at 2.9 mu m is used to interact with a range of dental hard tissue and restorative materials. The surface morphological chang es induced by 100 mJ pulses of <1 mu s duration is studied using a SER I, Results: The irradiated surfaces displayed microstructures similar to those of a mechanically fractured surface with no evidence of melti ng. Conclusion: This study suggests that tissue is removed by microexp losion, leaving a surface free from thermal damage with surface charac teristics that would appear to facilitate the adhesion of restorative materials. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.