Imaging and non-contact profile analysis of Nd:YAG laser-irradiated teeth by scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy

Two types of non-contact optical profilometers, one performing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) installed with a 3D analyzer and another performing confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were applied to evaluate imaging and surface profiles simultaneously on enamel and dentin after Nd:YAG laser irradiation. The results were correlated with a stylus profilometer. Surface roughness (Ra) was also measured. Laser was applied perpendicularly to vertical sections of human extracted caries-free molars. Analysis was done on the same spot of the same specimen by both SEM and CLSM for comparison. After irradiation, enamel produced a flake-like surface and dentin resulted in a melted globule surface. SEM and CLSM gave similar surface profiles and different image contrast. The Ra obtained by CLSM was larger than that by SEM. Both SEM and CLSM provided a non-contact evaluation of tooth structural change by laser irradiation through surface analysis in selected micro areas, which was not possible using the stylus profilometer.