Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41979759›Full record

ArticleLasers in medical science2026

Optimization of Er: YAG pulse duration and repetition rate for efficient, dentin‑preserving caries removal.

Fangyuan Kong, Fan He, Yaying Zhang, Hao Li, Chenguang Niu, Pengfei Zhang, Yuanfei Fu, Zhengwei Huang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Lasers in medical science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Fangyuan KongDepartment of Endodontics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
Fan HeDepartment of Dental Technology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
Yaying ZhangDepartment of Radiology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
Hao LiDepartment of Endodontics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
Chenguang NiuDepartment of Endodontics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
Pengfei ZhangDepartment of Endodontics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
Yuanfei FuDepartment of Dental Technology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China. fuyf1421@sh9hospital.org.cn.
Zhengwei HuangDepartment of Endodontics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China. huangzhengwei@shsmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Major and Key Cultivation Projects of Ninth People's Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong university School of Medicine JYZP006National Natural Science Foundation of China 82571073/82071104Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality 23XD1434200/22Y21901000
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo evaluate the effects of pulse duration and repetition rate on Er: YAG laser ablation efficiency and sound dentin preservation in artificial and natural carious models.

methodsFifty-six artificially decalcified dentin specimens were allocated to six Er: YAG laser groups (L1-L6; pulse durations 50-300 µs, repetition rates 20-40 Hz, energies 60-70 mJ) and one rotary bur control (n = 8 each). Twenty-four natural carious molars were assigned to medium-short pulse (MSP: 100 µs, 40 Hz) versus bur or super-short pulse (SSP: 50 µs, 40 Hz) versus bur comparisons (n = 12 pairs each). Sound dentin loss (mm²) and treatment duration (s/mm²) were quantified using standardized radiography or three-dimensional surface scanning, and ablation threshold changes (ΔE = E₁ - E₂) were assessed in natural carious model.

resultsIn the artificial model, L1 (70 mJ, 300 µs, 20 Hz) yielded the lowest sound dentin loss (median 0.040 mm², IQR 0.037-0.043), significantly less than bur (p < 0.001) and short-pulse groups L4 and L6 (p < 0.05 to p < 0.0001). L4 (70 mJ, 50 µs, 40 Hz) achieved the shortest laser treatment duration (mean 190.64 s/mm², SD 36.90; p < 0.05 vs. L1-L3). In natural caries, both MSP and SSP protocols preserved sound dentin comparably to bur (p > 0.05) but required 3.3- and 2.6-fold longer treatment times, respectively (p < 0.0001). Overall, 70% of specimens exhibited ΔE reductions of 5-10 mJ (maximum 20 mJ).

conclusionWithin a conservative energy range, short-pulse, high-repetition-rate Er: YAG settings enhance caries removal efficiency and lower ablation thresholds while preserving sound dentin similarly to rotary burs, supporting their application in minimally invasive deep-caries management.

Indexed as

Dental CariesDental Cavity PreparationDentinLasers, Solid-StateHumansMolarAblation efficiencyCaries removalEr:YAG laserPulse durationRepetition rate

Identifiers

PMID41979759
PMCPMC13079492

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.