Ablation Precision and Thermal Effects of a Picosecond Infrared Laser (PIRL) on Roots of Human Teeth: A Pilot Study Ex Vivo

BACKGROUND/AIM: Picosecond infrared laser (PIRL) was investigated regarding its possible therapeutic application in cutting dental roots.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracted human teeth were processed in the root area by laser ablations followed by histological evaluation. Dentin adjacent to the cutting surface was evaluated morphometrically.

RESULTS: PIRL produced clearly defined cutting boundaries in dental roots. At the bottom of the cavity, the ablation surface became slightly concave. Heat development in this scantly hydrated tissue was considerable. We attributed the excess heating effects to heat accumulation due to multiple pulse overlap across a limited scan range imposed by tooth geometries.

CONCLUSION: Defined areas of the tooth root may be treated using the PIRL. For clinical translation, it would be necessary to improve beam delivery to facilitate beam steering for the intended oral application (e.g. by using a fiber) and identify optimal repetition rates/scan speeds combined with cooling techniques to minimize accumulated heat within ablation cavities.