Effects of Water Flow on Dental Hard Tissue Ablation Using Er:YAG Laser

Abstract

Effective ablation of dental hard tissue using Er:YAG laser requires that the appropriate water flow rate correspond properly to irradiation conditions. The results of this study suggest the following parameters; a water flow rate of 1.69 mL/min for enamel and dentin ablation at a pulse energy of 250 mJ and for dentin ablation at 400 mJ/pulse, and a water flow rate of 6.75 mL/min for enamel ablation at a pulse energy of 400 mJ, regardless of pulse repetition rate of 5, 10, and 20 Hz.