Dentin hypersensitivity treatment by CO2 laser: the influence of the density of dentin tubules and laser-beam incidence

Dentin hypersensitivity is considered to be a consequence of the presence of open dentin tubules on the exposed dentin surface. Various methods and materials used in the treatment of this disease are directed to achieve a tubule's occlusion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate under scanning electron microscopy and clinical method the sealing effects of CO 2 laser on dentin tubules of human teeth without any damages of the surrounding tissues. Samples of freshly extracted noncarious 3 rd molars were used. The teeth were randomly divided in to two groups A and B. The samples of group A were exposed to laser beam in cervical area, directed parallel to their dentin tubules. The teeth of group B were sectioned through a hypothetical carious lesion and lased perpendicularly or obliquely of the dentin tubules. The CO 2 laser, at 10.6 micrometers wavelength, was operated only in pulse mode and provided 6.25 - 350 mJ in a burst of 25 pulses each of 250 microsecond(s) time duration with a 2 ms time interval between successive pulses (repetition rate up to 500 mH). Melting of dentin surface and partial closure of exposed dentin tubules were found for all specimens at 6.25 to 31.25 mJ energy. Our results indicated that using CO 2 laser in a parallel orientation of laser beam with dentin tubules, the dentin sensitivity can be reduced without any damages of pulp vitality.