Clinical evaluation of conventional and laser tooth preparation using visual analogue scale

Context: Use of lasers in painless contemporary restorative dentistry. Aims: To assess the extent of painless perception using lasers for tooth preparation based on visual analogue scale (VAS). To compare conventional and laser tooth preparation using VAS scale. Settings and Design: Adult patients reporting to the Department of Conservative Dentistry were selected. Fotona fidelis make for ER:YAG laser was used at preset laser settings for enamel and dentin removal with combination of air-water spray. Materials and Methods: Standardized class I tooth preparation for composite restorations were selected for individuals requiring treatment for teeth with similar enamel/dentinal configuration, that is, contralateral in the same individual. Carbide burs-SS White #245 were used for all preparations. Identical tooth preparations were carried out by the same operator for both the teeth using conventional high speed on one side and ER:YAG laser at noncontact mode on the other side. Fotona fidelis make was used at preset laser settings for enamel and dentin removal with combination of air-water spray. The patient was required to provide score according to the VAS scale. Statistical Analysis Used: Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The median of pain while preparing tooth by conventional method is the highest in patient (8) and the smallest in ER:YAG laser (1). The P value is very small (less than the common alpha-level of 0.05), the test is significant. Thus, it is concluded that the method of tooth preparation does affect the pain perception. Conclusions: The statistical analysis of these findings comprehensively prove that laser tooth preparation is much more painless, hence comfortable for the patient, only the economics prove to be a deterrent in its widespread usage.