Optical changes of human dentin after non-vital bleaching and effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser on micro-shear bond strength of a self-etch and an etch-and-rinse adhesive system

Effect of nanosecond- and microsecond-pulse Er,Cr:YSGG laser ablation on dentin shear bond strength of universal adhesives

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to evaluate the bond strength of universal adhesives to dentin after Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation with nanosecond-domain and microsecond-domain pulses.

METHODS

Eighty extracted caries-free, sound human molars were divided into eight groups. The enamel was removed until the dentin occlusal flat dentin surface was exposed. Etch-and-rinse followed by adhesive was applied to group 1, and a self-etch adhesive was applied to group 2. Er,Cr:YSGG laser (3 mJ, 100 Hz, 100 ns), (3 mJ, 100 Hz, 150 μs), and (20 mJ, 100 Hz, 150 μs) were applied to groups 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8, respectively. The laser preparation was followed by self-etch adhesives or adhesives treatment. When the composite resin had been built up on the samples, the shear bond strength was tested, and the data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTS

Groups prepared with nanosecond-pulse laser showed significantly higher bond strength values than the microsecond-pulse laser groups and self-etch mode group, and the SEM photographs also showed more dentinal tubules and no damage in the ablation area. The shear bond strength of long pulse laser ablated was comparable to that of self-etching system when it was combined with a self-etch adhesive at low energy, but higher energy laser degraded shear bond strength.

CONCLUSIONS

The pulse width of Er,Cr:YSGG laser affects the bond strength, nanosecond pulses of laser irradiation without water cooling can enhance bond strength, but microsecond pulses of laser cannot enhance bond strength.