Title: Modelling of temperature distribution within a dental profile on account of laser irradiation

Authors: Jayanta Mukherjee, Suman Chakraborty

Addresses: Power Engineering Department, Jadavpur University, Saltlake Campus, Kolkata 700098, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India

Abstract: Thermal-induced destruction of pulpal material on account of prolonged exposure to laser irradiation frequently offers serious challenges for application of lasers in dentistry. Here, we develop a mathematical model of heat transfer within the dental profile due to laser irradiation and attempt to locate the probable paths of heat flow by identifying the pertinent thermal resistances. Corresponding to a maximum allowable rise of temperature, we obtain suitable ranges of laser power, so that a negligible heat flux prevails at tooth locations farthest from the spot of laser treatment, thereby obtaining safe operating parameter regimes and avoiding any undesirable pulpal damage.

Keywords: laser irradiation; pulpal damage; thermal modelling; dentistry; temperature distribution; dental profile; mathematical modelling; heat transfer; laser safety; laser power; heat flux; tooth locations; laser treatment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2010.029658

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2010 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.186 - 198

Published online: 30 Nov 2009 *

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