IADR Abstract Archives
In Vitro Strengthening Effect of Er,Cr:YSGG Laser on Human Dentin: an in Vitro Pilot Study
Objectives: Contemporary avocated protocols utilize H-Mode. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of S-Mode Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation on the microhardness of human dentin.
Methods: Ten human dentin discs were prepared in 3mm thickness. Side-Firing Tips were positioned 2mm away from the dentin surface and delivered energy at the following settings: S Mode, 6W, 25Hz, without Air/Water, and for 3 seconds.
The discs were sectioned, embedded in epoxy resin and polished to a 0.1 micron level of finesse. All specimens were subjected to a Vickers hardness tester and microhardness values were recorded to compare laser-treated areas to untreated areas.
Results: Mean microhardness values of laser-treated areas were found to be elevated and at times tripled, when compared to untreated areas. A student's t-test was used for statistical analysis and found the differences in microhardness values to be statistically significant.
The areas of increased hardness values showed signs of burning and were observed to corroborate with areas where tubules seemed to have fused together. The affected areas average 40 microns in depth.
Conclusions: The findings of this study are unexpected and surprising. Future steps shall aim at reproducing this experiment in an endodontic tooth model, in both orthograde and retrograde approaches. If proven correct and clinically applicable, this modality may prove useful in minimizing the risk of tooth weakening and root fracture, as a result of endodontic therapy.
Methods: Ten human dentin discs were prepared in 3mm thickness. Side-Firing Tips were positioned 2mm away from the dentin surface and delivered energy at the following settings: S Mode, 6W, 25Hz, without Air/Water, and for 3 seconds.
The discs were sectioned, embedded in epoxy resin and polished to a 0.1 micron level of finesse. All specimens were subjected to a Vickers hardness tester and microhardness values were recorded to compare laser-treated areas to untreated areas.
Results: Mean microhardness values of laser-treated areas were found to be elevated and at times tripled, when compared to untreated areas. A student's t-test was used for statistical analysis and found the differences in microhardness values to be statistically significant.
The areas of increased hardness values showed signs of burning and were observed to corroborate with areas where tubules seemed to have fused together. The affected areas average 40 microns in depth.
Conclusions: The findings of this study are unexpected and surprising. Future steps shall aim at reproducing this experiment in an endodontic tooth model, in both orthograde and retrograde approaches. If proven correct and clinically applicable, this modality may prove useful in minimizing the risk of tooth weakening and root fracture, as a result of endodontic therapy.