Effect of ArF-193 nm excimer laser on human dentinal tubules. A scanning electron microscopic study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the ArF-193 nm excimer laser on the dentinal tubules of extracted human teeth under a scanning electron microscope. Fifteen 3 mm thick slices were cut with an electric saw at the cementoenamel junction from 15 extracted human teeth. A diamond bur was used to remove the cementum layer and expose the dentinal tubules. Each slice was scored by a permanent marker into four equal quadrants. The ArF excimer laser was applied for 5 seconds on three of the quadrants with fluences that ranged from 0.2 J/cm2 to 15 J/cm2 and pulse repetition of 25 Hz. The untouched quadrant served as a control. The specimens were mounted on stubs, sputter coated by gold, and examined by a scanning electron microscope. The effects of the ArF excimer laser irradiation varied. Laser fluences of 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 J/cm2 had no effect. Although fluence of 15 J/cm2 caused significant removal of peritubular dentin, melting and resolidification of the dentinal smear layer was also observed under the scanning electron microscope with a laser fluence of 5 J/cm2.