Will the CO 2 TEA Laser Beam Replace the Burr?

The capacity of the CO₂ TEA laser beam to ablate caries in dentistry is discussed. We conducted in vitro and in vivo tests on dogs and primates, respectively, to determine the efficacy of the CO₂ TEA laser as a potential dental drill. Analysis of histological, microscopic, and visual appearance of lesions that were lased with both a focused and defocused beam revealed that the focused CO₂ TEA laser beam produced effects comparable to the dental burr. Based on these investigations, we suggest that the focused CO₂ TEA laser has the capacity to compete with the burr in preparation of a narrow and shallow dentinal cavity. A possible application of this laser in dentistry would be for treatment of superficial tissular lesions.