Effect of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser energies on superficial and deep dentin microhardness

Evaluation of bond strength of resin cement to Er:YAG laser-etched enamel and dentin after cementation of ceramic discs

The purpose of this study was to investigate the shear bond strength (SBS) of ceramic discs luted to differently etched enamel and dentin surfaces. Occlusal surfaces of 64 carious-free human molars and vestibule surfaces of 64 first maxillary incisors were ground to get flat superficial dentin and flattened enamel respectively. After generating 4 groups according to the surface etching method (37% orthophosphoric acid, Er:YAG laser-contact handpiece/scanning handpiece (1 or 2 times of scanning)), ceramic discs were luted to the surfaces with adhesive resin cement (Variolink N, Vivadent Ets., Schaan/Liechtenstein). After etching and cementation, thermocycling of 5000 cycles (Sd Mechatronık Gmbh, Feldkirchen-Westerham, Germany) and SBS test (Servopulser EHFFD1; Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan) were performed respectively. The surface morphologies of 2 specimens, etched enamel and dentin, prepared for each group were examined with SEM analysis. Failure modes were determined under a USB digital microscope. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey HSD test (α = 0.05). SBS values in dentin surfaces showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) among tested groups. The highest SBS among dentin groups was determined in the group which had 2 times etching by Er:YAG laser (11.42 MPa) by a scanning handpiece. No statistical differences were observed in the other dentin or enamel groups. Laser etching seems to be a viable alternative to acid etching on both enamel and dentin surfaces while double etching of dentin with a scanning handpiece can improve the adhesion.

Effect of Erbium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Laser Combined with Mineralizing Agents on Microhardness of Demineralized Dentin

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the combined effect of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser and mineralizing agents including casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) and fluoride in improving the resistance of demineralized dentin at new demineralization process.

Materials and Methods One hundred and twenty healthy dentin surfaces were prepared and demineralized using acidic solutions. Primary microhardness was measured (h1), and samples were randomly divided into six groups. Each group received a different protocol as follows: Group A (control group): no additional treatment, Group B: applying a fluoridated gel, Group C: applying a CPP-ACP-containing cream, Group D: irradiation of Er:YAG laser, Group E: irradiation of Er:YAG laser combined with the application of a fluoridated agent, and Group F: irradiation of Er:YAG laser combined with the application of CPP-ACP-containing cream. Microhardness values were measured afterward (h2). Then, all the groups were re-exposed to acidic solution, and microhardness was measured for the third time (h3). The microhardness data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Scheffe's post hoc test.

Results Although application of mineralizing agents increased the microhardness of demineralized dentin in comparison with the control group, no significant difference was observed using two agents. Comparison of laser groups showed an increase in microhardness only after the irradiation of Er:YAG laser combined with the application of a fluoridated agent. Demineralizing process reduced the microhardness values in all the groups, but the application of a CPP-ACP agent caused the least reduction among the laser irradiated groups. Comparison of hardness changes at the beginning and end of the experiment did not show any significant differences between the groups.

Conclusion Comparison of treatment modalities used in this study exhibited that fluoride had the greatest impact on dentin resistance. Laser irradiation on demineralized dentin did not increase the hardness or resistance to acidic attacks.

Effect of Er:Yag laser on dentin demineralization around restorations

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cavity preparation with Er:YAG laser on dentin adjacent to restorations submitted to cariogenic challenge in situ, by subsuperficial microhardness analysis. Bovine incisors were sectioned, flattened, and polished, resulting in 40 dentin slabs. The slabs were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10), according to the cavity preparation method: I-high-speed handpiece (control); II-Er:YAG laser (160 mJ; 3 Hz); III-Er:YAG laser (260 mJ; 3 Hz); IV-Er:YAG laser (300 mJ; 3Hz). Cavities were restored with composite resin, and the specimens were fixed in intra-oral appliances, which were worn by 10 volunteers for 14 days for simulating cariogenic challenge in situ. During the experimental period, 20% sucrose solution was dripped over each specimen 6 times a day. Samples were removed, sectioned, and examined for subsuperficial Knoop microhardness at 100, 200, and 300 μm from the restoration and at 30 μm from dentin surface. Split-plot analysis of variance showed no significant difference among the cavity preparation techniques (p = 0.1129), among distances (p = 0.9030), as well as no difference in the interaction between the main factors (p = 0.7338). It was concluded that the cavity preparation with Er:YAG laser did not influence on dentin microhardness submitted to cariogenic challenge in situ.

Application of Laser Irradiation for Restorative Treatments

Nowadays, lasers are widely used in many fields of medicine. Also, they can be applied at many branches of dental practice such as diagnosis, preventive procedures, restorative treatments, and endodontic therapies. Procedures like caries removal, re-mineralization, and vital pulp therapy are the most noticeable effects of laser irradiation which has gained much attention among clinicians. With controlled and appropriate wavelength, they can help stimulating dentinogenesis, controlling pulpal hemorrhage, sterilization, healing of collagenic proteins, formation of a fibrous matrix, and inducing hard tissue barrier. Nevertheless, there are many controversies in literatures regarding their effects on the quality of bonded restorations. It hampered a wide application of lasers in some aspects of restorative dentistry and requirements to identify the best way to use this technology. The aim of this mini review is to explain special characteristics of laser therapy and to introduce the possible applications of laser devices for dental purposes.

Microindentation hardness and calcium/phosphorus ratio of dentin following excavation of dental caries lesions with different techniques

BACKGROUND

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the microindentation hardness and chemical composition of residual dentin left at the cavity bottom following removal of carious dentin using the Carisolv chemomechanical and Er:YAG laser caries excavation methods in comparison with the conventional tungsten-carbide bur excavation.

METHODS

Sixty-nine extracted permanent teeth with occlusal dentin caries were assigned into three groups according to caries removal technique. Carious dentin excavation was guided by tactile method and a caries-staining dye. In stereomicroscope images (100×) of the samples, the presence or absence of residual caries was defined. The Knoop hardness value of the cavity floor was determined and atomic analysis of treated cavities was performed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

RESULTS

The Knoop hardness value of residual dentin left at the cavity bottom was lower (One-way ANOVA, Dunnett-C, p < 0.05) and the percentage of samples with remaining carious dentin was higher after Carisolv excavation than those obtained after conventional and laser excavations (Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the quantities of calcium content (Ca wt%), phosphorus content (P wt%) and calcium/phosphorus ratio of the cavities treated by three techniques (Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that Er:YAG laser was more comparable to conventional bur excavation than chemomechanical method in the efficacy of caries removal with regard to microindentation hardness of remaining dentin and both Carisolv gel and Er:YAG laser did not alter chemical composition of residual dentin in the treated cavities.

Structural and Morphological Changes in Human Dentin after Ablative and Subablative Er:YAG Laser Irradiation

INTRODUCTION

This study investigated the influence of Erbium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) laser on microhardness, chemical composition and subsurface morphology of dentin cavity walls.

METHODS

Forty sound human premolars were selected and randomly assigned into four groups. Class V cavities were prepared either with an Er:YAG laser (groups 1 and 2; 15 Hz, 250 mJ for enamel, 10 Hz, 200 mJ for dentin) or with a high speed handpiece (groups 3 and 4). The specimens in groups 1 and 3 served as the control, whereas those in groups 2 and 4 were exposed to subablative laser irradiation following cavity preparation (10 Hz, 50 mJ). After bisecting the specimens, one half was subjected to microhardness assessment and the other half was evaluated by SEM-EDS analysis.

RESULTS

Microhardness was significantly greater in the specimens prepared by both ablative and subablative laser irradiation (group 2) than that of the bur-prepared cavities (groups 3 and 4) (P < 0.05). The quantity of calcium ion was significantly greater in cavities prepared by the Er:YAG laser (groups 1 and 2) compared to that of the bur cavities (groups 3 and 4) (P < 0.05). Subablative irradiation improved microhardness and weight percentage of calcium ion in both laser and bur cavities, but the difference was not significant compared to that of the relevant control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Cavity preparation with an Er:YAG laser could be considered as an alternative to the conventional method of drilling, as it enhances the mechanical and compositional properties of lased dentin, especially when combined by subablative irradiation.

Fracture Forces of Dentin after Surface Treatment with High Speed Drill Compared to Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG Laser Irradiation

Dental tooth restorative procedures may weaken the structural integrity of the tooth, with the possibility of leading to fracture. In this study we present findings of coronal dentin strength after different techniques of surface modification. The fracture strength of dentin beams after superficial material removal with a fine diamond bur high speed drill hand piece, Er:YAG (2.94 μm, 8 J/cm(2)), and Er,Cr:YSGG (2.78 μm, 7.8 J/cm(2)) laser irradiation slightly above the ablation threshold was measured by a four-point bending apparatus. Untreated dentin beams served as a control. A total of 58 dentin beams were manufactured from sterilized human extracted molars using the coronal part of the available dentin. Mean values of fracture strength were calculated as 82.0 ± 27.3 MPa for the control group (n = 10), 104.5 ± 26.3 MPa for high speed drill treatment (n = 10), 96.1 ± 28.1 MPa for Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation (n = 20), and 89.1 ± 36.3 MPa for Er:YAG laser irradiation (n = 18). Independent Student's t-tests showed no significant difference between each two groups (p > 0.05). Within the parameter settings and the limits of the experimental setup used in this study, both lasers systems as well as the high speed drill do not significantly weaken coronal dentin after surface treatment.

Thermal effects and morphological aspects of varying Er:YAG laser energy on demineralized dentin removal: an in vitro study

The aim of this study was to evaluate thermal changes, dentin ablation removal capacity, and morphological aspects of sound and demineralized human dentin surface irradiated with different output energies of an erbium: yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Er:YAG) laser. Eighty sound human tooth specimens were assigned into two groups: demineralized dentin and sound dentin (control group). The dentin groups were subdivided into four subgroups (n = 10) according to the irradiation energy used (120, 160, 200, or 250 mJ) at a constant frequency level of 6 Hz, in focused mode, and under refrigeration. Quantitative analysis of the sound and carious dentin ablation was performed using light microscopy (LM) by measuring (mm) the remaining demineralized tissue with the Axion Vision™ software. Qualitative analysis was performed using the images obtained with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the temperature increase was recorded with an infrared digital thermometer. The Er:YAG laser promoted a gradual increase in temperature for all groups, and no difference was observed between the sound and demineralized dentin. The groups of 200 and 250 mJ showed the highest values, yet a variation in temperature did not exceed 5 °C. The energy output of 120 mJ selectively removed demineralized tissue when compared to 250 mJ, while also providing more regular surfaces in the cavity preparation. It was concluded that the temperature increase during sound and demineralized dentin removal had a strong positive correlation with the Er:YAG laser energy level output. However, the higher energies used did not present selectivity to the demineralized tissue, and the parameters used did not cause an increase in temperature over 5 °C.