title: Some morphologic changes induced by Nd:YAG laser on the noncoated enamel surface: a scanning electron microscopy study.
abstract: The enamel surface layer of some human teeth was treated with the low-energy Nd:YAG laser at 8 mJ pulse energy. These samples were previously etched with 0.05 M orthophosphoric acid to reduce the surface reflection. The treated samples, as well as the control samples, were widely studied by scanning electron microscopy, and, in the lased group, significant morphologic changes affecting the enamel surface were observed. Those changes reveal principally the loss of the typical surface structure of the acid-etched enamel. The hydroxyapatite prisms were not discernible, and there was a decrease in the roughness of the lased surface enamel. These laser-induced structural changes may be related to the increased resistance to the calcification reported by many authors.
authors.affiliation: Depto. de Biología Animal, Universidad de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Márquez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salgado
mesh_terms: D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007834:Lasers; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013499:Surface Properties