%0 Journal Article %T Measurement of temperature changes during cavitation generated by an erbium, chromium: Yttrium, scandium, gallium garnet laser %A Harry Huiz Peeters %A Latief Mooduto %J Open Journal of Stomatology %P 286-291 %@ 2160-8717 %D 2012 %I Scientific Research Publishing %R 10.4236/ojst.2012.24050 %X Aim: The present study evaluated the magnitude of temperature changes in the tooth during cavitation produced by an Er,Cr:YSGG laser. Methods: The root canal of a single extracted maxillary canine was enlarged to a size 30/.02 file. Four thermocouples were attached to the tooth: one to the surface of the root and three inserted into the canal at 3, 9, and 15 mm from the apical foramen, respectively. The tooth was placed in a plastic container at room temperature around 25ˇăC. The tooth was processed as follows. In the EDTA condition, the tooth was irrigated with 17% EDTA; in the NaOCl condition, the tooth was irrigated with 3% NaOCl; and to analyse the effect of different thicknesses of dentin, the tooth was irrigated with tap water. In all conditions, the irrigants were activated at 2 W for 120 seconds. Results: The mean temperature was 25.2ˇăC to 27.1ˇăC and the temperature ranged from 25.0ˇăC to 29.6ˇăC. The temperature elevation measured during cavitation generated by the laser didnot exceed 5ˇăC. Conclusions: The magnitude of the temperature changes in the root canal and at the surface of the tooth did not exceed 5ˇăC when laser-driven irrigation was used to produce cavitation in the root canal. %K Cavitation %K Heat %K Laser-Driven Irrigation %K Temperature Changes %U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=25261