Anita Yuliati

Effect of Q -switched pulses exposure on morphology, hydroxyapatite composition, and microhardness properties of human enamel

Ablation of healthy human enamel is demonstrated using a 8 ns pulses at wavelength of 1064 nm and 10Hz repetition rate from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The ablation result shows that an enhanced structuring quality in comparison with non-Q-switched pulse exposure. The material removal remains localized in the area of the laser spot with no signs of collateral damage and cracks observed. As a comparison, exposure to longer pulses of 120 μs from non-Q-switched Nd:YAG laser increases the composition of hydroxyapatite as well as microhardness property of enamel, which produces a side effect of surface dehydration and crack. This study suggests that the application of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser as contactless drills in dentistry should be regarded as an alternative to the classical mechanical technique to improve the quality of the tooth treatment.