Dental procedures and apparatus using ultraviolet radiation
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for performing laser dentistry on a tooth in a patient'"'"'s mouth, comprising:
- a laser system for producing ultraviolet radiation pulses,delivery means for delivering said radiation pulses to said tooth to ablate material therefrom without substantial heat buildup at said tooth, andcontrol means for automatically controlling the energy fluence of said ultraviolet radiation pulses to selected energy fluences in accordance with the type of material being ablated from said tooth, a first selected energy fluence being at least the threshold fluence F1 necessary to ablate enamel at a selected ultraviolet wavelength, and a second selected energy fluence being greater than the threshold fluence F2 necessary to ablate carious material but less than the fluence F1, at said selected ultraviolet wavelength.
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Abstract
An improved dental procedure and apparatus where ultraviolet radiation pulses are used to etch selectively both hard tissue and soft tissue in dental procedures. There exists distinct ablation thresholds for hard and soft tissue which are dependent on the material being ablated for a given wavelength of the ultraviolet radiation. Sufficient differences in ablation threshold exist for enamel, dentin, and carious material, thereby allowing dentists to perform both hard tissue and soft tissue procedures without excess damage to healthy enamel, dentin or other pulp structures.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for performing laser dentistry on a tooth in a patient'"'"'s mouth, comprising:
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a laser system for producing ultraviolet radiation pulses, delivery means for delivering said radiation pulses to said tooth to ablate material therefrom without substantial heat buildup at said tooth, and control means for automatically controlling the energy fluence of said ultraviolet radiation pulses to selected energy fluences in accordance with the type of material being ablated from said tooth, a first selected energy fluence being at least the threshold fluence F1 necessary to ablate enamel at a selected ultraviolet wavelength, and a second selected energy fluence being greater than the threshold fluence F2 necessary to ablate carious material but less than the fluence F1, at said selected ultraviolet wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification