Morphology, Histology and Crystallography of Human Dental Enamel Treated with Pulsed Low-Energy Infrared Laser Radiation

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Abstract
The surface morphology of human enamel treated with pulsed, infrared laser radiation was examined using reflected light and scanning electron microscopy. Thin ( < 5μm) surface melts with a varying degree of surface macroroughening were produced for each of the four wavelengths studied (9.32, 9.57, 10.27, 10.59 μm) in the 10–50 J·cm––2 pulse energy density range with peak power densities reaching approximately 107–108 W·cm––2. Significant heat conductance under the surface melt was limited to a depth of approximately 10–20 μm. Tetracalcium diphosphate monoxide, Ca4(PO4)2O, was identified as being a component of the surface melt together with an apatite phase that had a reduced carbonate content when compared to normal surface enamel. Histological differences and shallower lesions were observed using polarizing light microscopy in artificial lesions formed in lased enamel when compared with control lesions. These results provide a greater understanding of the use of lasers as a potential preventative tool in dentistry.