Mechanism Associated with Excimer Laser Ablation of Tooth Enamel

Abstract

The mechanism associated with excimer laser ablation of tooth enamel had been studied using fast photography and electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA). A human tooth enamel was adopted as a sample. The ArF and KrF excimer lasers were used in this study. Time-resolved photographs of ablation plume were obtained using a microscope-mounted camera together with pulsed illumination from a XeCl excimer laser pumped dye solution. Possible mechanisms to explain laser ablation were examined. The results indicated that the ArF and KrF excimer laser promoted primarily photothermal ablation. Photochemical ablation had occurred only in the ArF excimer laser irradiation. Photomechanical ablation appeared to be negligible during the ArF and KrF excimer laser ablation of tooth enamel.