Srihari Devalla, Kalyan Satish Rajulapati, Ram Babu Tanikonda.
SEM evaluation of dentinal surface after exposure to pulsed ND:YAG laser.
Isra Med J Jan ;4(4):214-8.

OBJECTIVE: Objective of the study was a scanning electron microscopic evaluation of dentinal surface after being exposed to pulsed Nd:YAG laser, in vitro. STUDY DESIGN: An invitro experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION: This study was conducted from December 2009 to November 2010 in Bhimavaram, India. METHODOLOGY: Forty freshly extracted human mandibular premolars were used in this study. Their crowns were removed and the roots were prepared by a step back technique upto size 40 K-file. The teeth were split longitudinally, and randomly divided into four groups of 10 teeth each. The apical third of the root canals were exposed to pulsed Nd:YAG laser having a wavelength of 1064nm, set at energy level of 100mJ/pulse per second . Group I, II and III were exposed to laser frequency of ten, twenty and thirty pulses per second respectively. Group IV was not irradiated and served as a control. The specimens were prepared for scanning electron microscope evaluation of the dentinal surface. RESULTS: The results obtained were scored based on the amount of debris removal and surface morphology of dentin, and were analysed statistically using ANOVA test. All the lased groups showed removal of debris to varying degrees. Group IV that was not lased did not show any debris removal. CONCLUSION: Nd:YAG laser is effective in complete removal of debris and smear layer from the canal walls. However further investigations are required for clinical efficiency and applicability of lasers during endodontic treatment.

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