[Bacterial activity in the products of laser destruction of human dental enamel and dentin].

Viability of Streptococci, Staphylococci, and Bacillus subtilis in products of destruction of hard dental tissues of man by submillisecond pulses emmitted by erbium lasers YAG:Er and YSGG:Cr,Er was investigated. Bacterial viability was found to depend on the energy density and duration of laser exposure. Possible mechanisms of bacterial destruction by pulses of submillisecond duration emmitted by erbium laser are discussed.