Abstract
There are two types of optical guide paths for CO2 laser, manipulation type and fiber type. However, few reports are found with respect to the effect of the guide path on the properties of the enamel surface after irradiation with a CO2 laser. We investigated the surface of bovine enamel after irradiation with a CO2 laser with the two types of guide paths.1.Transpiring hole area and the black diameter area increased with laser output with both types of optical guide paths. Those areas were two or three times wider in the fiber type than in the manipulation type.2.Irradiation energy was concentrated at one point on the surface in the manipulation type and dispersed at a few points in the fiber type.3.Transpiring hole area and the black diameter area were wider in pulse mode irradiation than in continuous mode.It was concluded that the manipulation mode is suitable for a pinpoint treatment and the fiber type for effective irradiation of a wide area.
