The in vitro tissue ablation characteristics of two pulsed mid-infrared lasers were studied, especially, with the intent to evaluate photomechanical and photothermal side effects. The Erbium:YAG laser emitted radiation at 2.94 micrometers in a spiking mode. The free-running beam from the laser was focused onto freshly-excised porcine samples via a 108-mm sapphire lens. The spot size was determined by a photosensitive metallic foil. The Holmium:YAG laser emitted radiation at 2.10 micrometers . The radiation was coupled to a 400- micrometers core quartz fiber. Both lasers were operated at 5 Hz, and 6 pulses were delivered to each porcine specimen using 'dry' and 'wet' ablation mode, respectively. After irradiation, the samples were investigated by means of light and scanning electron microscopy. The results of this survey indicate that both laser types ablate porcine oral mucosa efficiently. The Er:YAG laser produces less surrounding mechanical and thermal damage. In contrast to safe and suitable optical fibers available for the Ho:YAG laser, fiber optical delivery systems for the Er:YAG laser are still in the development phase. Nevertheless, current research work in this field seems promising and the near future may hold an adequate optical transmission systems for the delivery of both wavelengths, 2.10 micrometers and 2.94 micrometers , in order to provide on the one hand atraumatic ablation and on the other hand sufficient hemostasis.

Date Published: 15 May 1997
PDF: 11 pages
Proc. SPIE 2973, Lasers in Dentistry III, (15 May 1997); doi: 10.1117/12.273587

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2973:
Lasers in Dentistry III
Harvey A. Wigdor D.D.S.; John D. B. Featherstone; Peter Rechmann D.D.S., Editor(s)