In this study, the surface morphology and structure of dentin after ablation by ultra-short pulses were evaluated using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The dentin specimens examined were irradiated by a chirped-pulse-amplification (CPA) Ti:sapphire laser (800 nm) and the optimal conditions for producing various nanostructures were determined. Based on the ESEM results, it was possible to identify an energy density range as the ablation threshold for dentin. The laser-induced damage was characterized over the fluence range 1.3-2.1 J/cm(2). The results demonstrate that by selecting suitable parameters one can obtain efficient dentin surface preparation without evidence of thermal damage, i.e., with minimized heat affected zones and reduced collateral damage, the latter being normally characterized by formation of microcracks, grain growth and recrystallization in the heat affected zones. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.