title: The use of carbon dioxide laser in pit and fissure caries prevention: clinical evaluation.
abstract: In this 4-year follow-up in vivo controlled study, 112 human permanent first molars from children between 6 and 11 years old were used to investigate the viability of the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser in promoting caries-free occlusal surfaces in permanent molars as an isolated form of treatment or associated with conventional fissure sealants. The findings suggest that occlusal caries prevention only by means of CO2 laser irradiation is not effective; that the utilization of photoactivated sealants, as well as its association with CO2 laser, applied over the occlusal fissures, are effective means of preventing occlusal caries, and that the application of CO2 laser over occlusal fissures prior to the application of a photoactivated fissure sealant improves the retention of the sealant.
authors.affiliation: Laser Centre, Camilo Castelo Branco University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brugnera Júnior
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Genovese
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003750:Dental Fissures / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008963:Molar / Q000528:radiation effects; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants
chemical_list: D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants; D002245:Carbon Dioxide