Laser application to modify healthy permanent dentin to improve microhardness and caries resistence has been previously reported but the physical modification and ablation thresholds of carious and sclerotic dentin has yet to be identified. This study determined the energy density required by modify (physical modification threshold, PMT) and remove (ablation threshold, AT) infected carious, affected and selerotic dentin compared to healthy permanent dentin. $1{pm}0.25mm$ thick dentin sections(n=272) from extracted human teeth were used. Smear layer was removed 0.5M EDTA for 2 minutes. Utilizing three pulsed fiberopitc delivered contact lasers with different emission wavelengths($1.06{mu}m$=Nd : YAG, $2.10{mu}m$=Ho : YAG and $2.94{mu}mEr$ : YAG). The energy density($J/cm^2$) was incrementally increased and the resulting tissue interaction classified on a scale from 0-6. A minimum of 5 repetitions/energy density were completed. Light microscopy(10-25X) was used to verify the physical modification(scale=3) and ablation thresholds(scale=4) of the various forms of dentin and the data were analyzed by logistic regression at the 95 % confidence interval. PMT and AT by the laser and the dentin types were: PMT and AT was lower in infected dentin than in sound dentin for all lasers. PMT and AT induced by Nd : YAG>Ho : YAG>Er : YAG for all forms of dentin. Microhardness was increased in sound dentin at PMT. Morphology of crater examined by light microscopy showed Nd : YAG was safe and effective for removing carious dentin and Er: YAG was effective for removing sound dentin. The PMT and AT for YAG lasers are different as a function of dentin type which may be utilized for selective modification and removal of dentin.