Compositional Changes of Enamel and Dentine After Er:YAG Laser Irradiation

The aim of the present study was to investigate the organic and inorganic compositions of enamel and dentine after Er:YAG laser irradiation using Fourier-transform Raman spectroscopy (FT-Raman). The enamel and dentine of extracted human teeth were irradiated by Er:YAG laser at an energy density of 29.7 J/cm(2). The organic and inorganic components were evaluated from Raman spectra of untreated and laser-treated of extracted human teeth. The results showed that the Raman intensity ratio of the carbonate peak (1067 cm(-1)) to the phosphate peak (957 cm(-1)) and the organic peak (2940 cm(-1)) to the phosphate peak of enamel and dentine decreased after laser irradiation. Therefore, laser treatment can reduce the organic and inorganic components of human enamel and dentine.