Influence of water-layer thickness on Er:YAG laser ablation of enamel of bovine anterior teeth

Different ideas have been presented to describe the mechanism of augmented laser ablation of dental enamel with different shapes by adding water to the working environment. In this study, the influence of water–laser interaction on the surface of enamel during ablation was investigated at a wavelength of 2.94 μm with different distances between the laser tip and the enamel surface. A motion-control system was used to produce linear incisions uniformly on flat enamel surfaces of bovine anterior teeth, with free-running Er:YAG laser very short pulses (pulse length = 90–120 μs, repetition rate = 10 pulses per second). Four different output energies (100, 200, 300 and 400 mJ) were radiated on samples under distilled water from different distances (0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.75 and 2.00 mm). The tooth slices were prepared with a cutting machine, and the surfaces of the ablated areas were measured with software under a light microscope. The average and standard deviation of all cut areas in different groups were reported. There was no significant difference when using a different pulse ablation speed (cm³/J) and a water-layer thickness between the tip and enamel surface of 0.5–1.25 mm with energy densities of 30–60 J/cm² (200–400 mJ). However, using an output energy of 15 J/cm² (100 mJ) and a thicker water layer than 1 mm, a linear ablation did not take place. This information led to a clearer view of the efficiency of Er:YAG laser in the conditions of this study. There are several hypotheses which describe a hydrokinetic effect of Er,Cr:YSGG. These basic studies could guide us to have a correct attitude regarding hydro-mechanical effects of water, although the wavelength of 2.78 μm has a better absorption in hydroxyl branch of water molecules. Therefore, our results do not directly interrupt with the series of investigations done with Er,Cr:YSGG. Water propagation and channel formation under water are investigated during the ablation of tooth enamel with the Er:YAG laser from different distances. Comparing the results of this study with the same research done with water/air spray concludes that the bubble formation and channel propagation in water with this wavelength leads to a more symmetric (linear) ablation process with cavity-preparation-recommended parameters.