Morphologic study of Nd:YAG laser usage in treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity.

Our previous in vitro study indicated that Nd:YAG laser irradiation on dentin could melt normal dentin surface and close the exposed dentinal tubule orifices without creating surface cracks. This study evaluated the morphologic changes of hypersensitive dentin after Nd:YAG laser irradiation. Thirty patients with clinically diagnosed cervical dentin hypersensitive teeth were treated with a Nd:YAG laser of 30 mJ intensity at 10 pulses per second for 2 min. An impression of the sensitive area was taken before and after laser treatment and then examined with a scanning electron microscope. The impression of the dentin surface after Nd:YAG laser treatment showed no protrusive rods, in contrast with the presence of numerous rods before laser irradiation. Because protrusive rods are a measure of open dentinal tubules, we interpret these data to support the hypothesis that Nd:YAG laser irradiation at specifications of 30 mJ, 10 pulses per second, and 2 min can be used to seal the exposed dentinal tubules.