The use of LLLT under the conditions administered in the present study demonstrated analgesic and healing effects with regard to RAS.

Objective: This investigation evaluated the variation of the intrapulpal temperature when dentine was irradiated by the Er:YAG laser. Background Data: The effect of preparation with the Er:YAG laser on the intrapulpal temperature is probably the biggest problem in using the laser for preparation of dental hard tissue. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two bovine incisors were studied that had the enamel and dentine of the buccal surface polished to a thickness of 2.0 mm. The teeth were divided into three groups, according to the repetition rate used (Group I = 2 Hz, Group II = 4 Hz, and Group III = 6 Hz), and irradiated, with or without water cooling, using 250, 300, and 350 mJ of energy per pulse. Thermocouples were introduced inside the pulp chamber through the palatine opening of the samples and fixed to the vestibular wall of the pulp chamber using a thermal paste. Results: It was verified that there was a decrease of the intrapulpal temperature for all of the parameters in the Group I irradiated with water cooling and for the parameters of 350 mJ/4 Hz with water cooling. The other irradiations showed an increase of the intrapulpal temperature, varying from 0.03°t o 2.5°C. Conclusion: We conclude that the use of the Er:YAG laser promoted acceptable temperature increases inside the pulp chamber. However, we do not recommend this procedure without water cooling because macroscopic observations of the dentine irradiated without water cooling showed dark lesions, suggesting carbonization of this tissue. 182

The outcome of this clinical case indicates that the use of those lasers could be considered an alternative, suitable, and useful method to perform an apicectomy.

SUMMARY:In this work, we studied the effects of CO 2 , Nd:YAG and diode lasers on the enamel and dentin of deciduous human teeth. After the irradiations, the samples were duly prepared and set up on metallic bases, covered with gold and examined in the scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the irradiation with the CO 2 mode locked laser with 1.0 W power caused melting and irregularities with small cavities on the surface of the enamel. The irradiated area on the dentin surface appeared circular and well delimited, containing blocks of dentin and cracks. By using the pulsed Nd:YAG laser with 1.0 W mean power and 10 Hz frequency, the enamel surface presented granules of molten enamel, with a typical melting look. The irradiated dentin surface presented a cavity with a margin elevated with granules and holes, and its bottom presented dentinary tubules with globules of melted dentin. Irradiation with the mode locked of diode laser with 1.0 W mean power, showed the formation of a melted and evenly resolidified enamel surface, and the dentin surface presented a block of melted dentin with adjacent regions of normal dentin, evidently with a relatively smooth surface.