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Change of enamel after Er:YAG and CO2 laser irradiation and fluoride treatment.

Kwon YH, Lee JS, Choi YH, Lee JM, Song KB

Department of Dental Materials, College of Dentistry and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to compare acquired acid resistance in dental enamel after Er:YAG and CO(2) laser irradiation in vitro with additional fluoride treatment. BACKGROUND DATA: The application of lasers in dental hard tissue can impact dental constituents and fluoride with complex interactions. METHODS: Bovine enamels were divided into four groups according to their surface condition: unlased, Er:YAG laser-ablated, fluoridetreated after Er:YAG laser ablation, and CO(2) laser-irradiated after Er:YAG laser and fluoride treatment. Calcium distribution in enamel after pH-cycling process and crystallographical change after laser treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: The crystallinity of enamel was much improved after Er:YAG laser ablation. The CO(2) laser irradiation in the fluoride-treated laser enamel formed alpha-TCP and fluorapatite. The change of calcium distribution in enamel was least in the CO(2) laser-irradiated specimens; the fluoride-treated specimen after Er:YAG laser ablation was next. Additional fluoride treatment both after Er:YAG and before CO(2) laser irradiation improved the acid resistance of enamel. CONCLUSION: Both external treatment of fluoride and irradiation of CO(2) laser after Er:YAG laser ablation greatly reduced calcium loss in enamel during the pH cycling process.

Published 7 September 2005 in Photomed Laser Surg, 23(4): 389-94.
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