Clinical Application of Er:YAG Laser for Cavity Preparation in Children

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical usefulness of Er:YAG laser for cavity preparation in children. The conventional methods for cavity preparation instill fear and discomfort in pediatric patients. The Er:YAG laser is a new tool developed for cavity preparation; however, there are few reports of its clinical application. A clinical evaluation using an Er:YAG laser was carried out using 32 subjects (with 16 deciduous and 19 permanent teeth) with ages ranging from 2 to 12 years. All cavities were restored with light-cured composite resin following the application of bonding agent, but without acid etching or primer conditioning. During laser treatment, the pediatric patients were very cooperative and hardly complained of any pain, and no tooth showed undesirable effects during the 3-year period of observation. It can be concluded from the results of this study that an Er:YAG laser would be a useful alternative method for cavity preparation for composite resin restoration in children.