6 Effect of Er : YAG laser irradiation with perfluorocarbon on dentin

Abstract

Water cooling is necessary when cutting with the Er : YAG laser. Perfluorocarbon (PFC) has also been used to increase the cutting efficiency (CE) of human bone. I investigated the influence of PFC on bovine dentin. Three types of PFC, whose boiling points were 56, 80 and 102℃, were used for cooling when cutting polished dentin. The CE, thickness of the denatured layer and bond strength of the composite resin were investigated. I also studied the effect of increased irradiation and etching by phosphoric acid. The use of PFC with boiling points of 56 and 80℃ increased CE. The lower the boiling point, the thicker the denatured layer. Although the use of PFC lowered the bond strength, additional irradiation with water cooling and etching increased it.