Method for Accurately Preparing Cavities on Cortical Bones Using Picosecond Laser

Objective: This study was conducted to (1) evaluate a new method for accurately and automatically preparing dental implant cavities; (2) investigate the quantitative relationships between the number of focal-plane additive pulse layers (n) in two-dimensional ablation, the Z-axis feed rate, and the ablation depth (d) during cortical-bone ablation using a numerically controlled three-axis picosecond laser; and (3) establish appropriate methods for precise ablation control. Materials and methods: Two-dimensional ablation was performed on swine-rib blocks in the focal plane on a preset circular path using a picosecond laser device and an in-house-developed three-axis numerically controlled micro-laser galvanometer scanner. The maximum two-dimensional d and the quantitative relationship between n and d within the maximum d were consequently obtained. The measured and theoretical values of the ablated cavities were then compared to obtain n and d values corresponding to the minimum difference, and to evaluate the error in d, resulting in a higher-accuracy d value (i.e., single-step ablation depth) being obtained. Results: The diameter and deep errors between the measured and design data for 24 cavities were 2.76 ± 1.51 and 10.23 ± 4.82 μm, respectively. Thus, high-quality cortical-bone cavities preparation was achieved using a picosecond laser with the parameters employed in this study. Conclusions: Precise control of cortical-bone ablation using a picosecond laser can be attained by optimizing the single-step ablation parameters.