Light-scattering properties of dentin and enamel at 543, 632, and 1053 nm

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Abstract
The angular distribution of scattered laser light was measured at 543 nm (HeNe), 632 nm (HeNe), and 1053 nm (YLF) through 50 to 100 micrometers sections of enamel and dentin. The scattering distributions were strongly forward peaked at all three wavelengths, indicating that all samples were highly transmissive. The scattering distributions are very sensitive to surface scattering, and a large percentage of the incident light is internally reflected at the exit surfaces of these materials, masking the true scattering distributions. True bulk scattering distributions were measured in a bath of index-matching fluid. For 1 micrometers radiation there was no measurable absorption and only minimal highly forward-directed scattering in 100 micrometers enamel sections. In dentin there was somewhat more forward-directed scattering with less than 10% absorption in 100 micrometers sections. This information should be taken into consideration in any laser irradiation of dental surfaces at these wavelengths.

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