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

Puntos clave

• The study aims to determine the optimal Er: YAG laser settings for effective caries removal while preserving healthy dentin.
• Evaluated different Er:YAG pulse durations and repetition rates.
• Measured caries removal efficiency within a conservative energy range.
• Compared findings to traditional rotary burs regarding dentin preservation.
• Short-pulse, high-repetition-rate settings significantly improve caries removal efficiency.
• Lower ablation thresholds are observed with optimized settings.
• Dentin preservation is comparable to that achieved with rotary burs, supporting minimally invasive approaches.