Effect of Laser-Induced Dentin Modifications on Periodontal Fibroblasts and Osteoblasts: A New In Vitro Model

Root Surface Bio-modification with Erbium Lasers- A Myth or a Reality??

The objective of this literature review was to critically review the evidence available in the literature regarding the expediency of erbium family of lasers for root bio modification as a part of periodontal therapy. The literature search was performed on the Pubmed using MeSH words such as "lasers/therapeutic use, scaling, dental calculus, tooth root/anatomy and histology, ultrasonic therapy". The studies were screened and were grouped as follows: those evaluating a) efficacy for calculus removal with the Erbium family of laser b) root surface changes following Er YAG and Er Cr YSGG application c) comparative studies of the Er YAG, Er Cr YSGG lasers versus conventional methods of root surface modification d) Bio compatibility of root surface following Erbium laser treatment e) Studies on the combined efficacy of laser root modification with conventional methods towards root surface bio-modification f) Studies on effectiveness of root surface bio-modification prior to root coverage procedures. In conclusion, the erbium family has a proven anti-bacterial action, predictable calculus removal, minimal root substance removal, and appears to favor cell attachment. The Erbium family of lasers appears to be a useful adjunct for the management of periodontal disease.

Intrapulpal temperature changes during root surface irradiation with dual-wavelength laser (2780 and 940 nm): in vitro study

This work reports that the ablation volume and rate of porcine skin changed significantly with the change of skin water content. Under the same laser irradiation conditions (532 nm Nd:YAG laser, pulse width = 11.5 ns, pulse energy = 1.54 J, beam radius = 0.54 mm), the ablation volume dropped by a factor of 4 as the skin water content decreased from 40 wt. % (native) to 19 wt. % with a change in the ablation rate below and above around 25 wt. %. Based on the ablation characteristics observed by in situ shadowgraph images and the calculated tissue temperatures, it is considered that an explosive rupture by rapid volumetric vaporization of water is responsible for the ablation of the high water content of skin, whereas thermal disintegration of directly irradiated surface layer is responsible for the low water content of skin.

Initial fibroblast attachment to Erbium:YAG laser-irradiated dentine

AIMS

To evaluate the effects of Erbium (Er):YAG laser irradiation on the morphology of resected dentine surfaces, and to investigate fibroblast attachment to laser-irradiated dentine surfaces.

METHODOLOGY

Dentine blocks obtained from single-rooted human teeth were divided into the following groups after sterilization in an autoclave: (i) Laser group treated with Er:YAG laser irradiation (30 mJ per pulse, 10 pps, 60 s); (ii) L-MTAD group treated with laser irradiation as in (i) plus a mixture of doxycycline, tetracycline isomer and citric acid; (iii) RC-Prep group treated with EDTA gel or cream (RC-Prep) and (iv) Control group left untreated. After each treatment, the dentine blocks were incubated with NIH/3T3 fibroblasts cultured to subconfluency in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% foetal bovine serum and antibiotics. The number of attached cells amongst the groups was analysed statistically at the 5% significance level. The dentine surface morphologies and cell attachments were evaluated by counting assays, histological observations and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

RESULTS

The number of attached cells was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the Laser group than in the RC-Prep and Control groups at 16 h. Dendritic cell extension of the fibroblasts was only observed in the Laser group at 8 h by SEM. In the histological analyses, significantly more attached cells were found on the dentine surfaces treated with laser irradiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Er:YAG laser irradiation induced morphological alterations in dentine surfaces, which may improve the attachment of fibroblasts to dentine.

Influence of the angle of irradiation of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser on the morphology, attachment of blood components, roughness, and root wear: in vitro study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the influence of the working tip angulation of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser on the morphology, attachment of blood components, roughness, and wear on irradiated root surfaces compared to scaling and root planing (SRP).

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study used 45 teeth, of which 25 were used for the analysis of the morphology and the attachment of blood components and 20 were used for the analysis of the roughness and of the root wear. The teeth were randomly divided into five groups according to the treatment applied: (G1) Laser Er,Cr:YSGG-30°; (G2) Laser Er,Cr:YSGG-45°; (G3) Laser Er,Cr:YSGG-60°; (G4) Laser Er,Cr:YSGG-90°; and (G5) SRP.

RESULTS

The root surfaces irradiated with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser working angulation tip of 45° and 60°, and the samples scaled with manual instruments presented greater attachment of blood components than the group where the Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiated at working tip angulation of 30° and 90° (P<0.05). The samples irradiated with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser were rougher than the samples scaled with manual instruments (P<0.05). The group that was irradiated with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser at an angle of 30° presented the least wear in comparison to all the other treatments (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The irradiated root surfaces proved to be rougher than those scaled with manual instruments; however, irradiation at working tip angulations of 45° and 60° produced results of attachment of blood components and root wear comparable with those obtained with manual instrumentation.

Comparative effects of a novel plant-based calcium supplement with two common calcium salts on proliferation and mineralization in human osteoblast cells

Calcium is an essential mineral to support bone health and serves as a major therapeutic intervention to prevent and delay the incidence of osteoporosis. Many individuals do not obtain the optimum amount of calcium from diets and depend on bioavailable calcium supplements. The present study was conducted to examine the effect of a novel plant-based calcium supplement, derived from marine algae, and contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, and other bone supporting minerals [commercially known as AlgaeCal (AC)], on proliferation, mineralization, and oxidative stress in cultured human osteoblast cells, and compared with inorganic calcium carbonate and calcium citrate salts. Cultured human fetal osteoblast cells (hFOB 1.19) were treated with AC (0.5 mg/ml, fixed by MTT assay), calcium carbonate, or calcium citrate. These cells were harvested after 4 days of treatment for ALP activity, PCNA expression, and DNA synthesis, and 2 days for Ca(2+) deposition in the presence and absence of vitamin D3 (5 nM). The ability of AC to reduce H(2)O(2) (0.3 mM)-induced oxidative stress was assessed after 24 h of treatment. ALP activity was significantly increased with AC treatment when compared to control, calcium carbonate, or calcium citrate (4.0-, 2.0-, and 2.5-fold, respectively). PCNA expression (immunocytochemical analysis), DNA synthesis (4.0-, 3.0-, and 4.0-fold, respectively), and Ca(2+) deposition (2.0-, 1.0-, and 4.0-fold, respectively) were significantly increased in AC-treated cells when compared with control, calcium carbonate, or calcium citrate treatment. These markers were further enhanced following additional supplementation of vitamin D3 in the AC-treated group cells. AC treatment significantly reduced the H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress when compared to calcium carbonate or calcium citrate (1.5- and 1.4-fold, respectively). These findings suggest that AC may serve as a superior calcium supplement as compared to other calcium salts tested in the present study. Hence, AC may be developed as a novel anti-osteoporotic supplement in the near future.