RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We have investigated the fundamental aspects of Nd:YAG laser at the picosecond pulse regime interacting with primary teeth. Because little is present in the literature concerning specific laser ablation for primary teeth with respect to enamel and dentin, this work may open perspectives for new investigations. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a picosecond Nd:YAG laser, different power levels (200, 300, and 350 mW) and different exposition times (5, 10, and 15 seconds) were considered. RESULTS: Micro-morphological aspects of the laser-tooth interaction showed collateral effects in enamel more accentuated than in dentin. Penetration depth in dentin seems to scale up in rate as the time of application progress, for enamel the behavior is the opposite. The overall ablated volume is higher in dentin when compared with enamel, which results in a higher ablated rate as well. CONCLUSIONS: Specific ablation characteristics are observed in either dentin or enamel.