Prevention of demineralization by CO2 and Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation of overdenture abutments.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of Er,Cr:YSGG and CO2 laser irradiation on the prevention of demineralization of overdenture abutments.


METHODS
32 human canines, premolars, and molars were acquired, cleaned, and scaled. They were randomly divided into two groups. Each tooth had two windows on the occlusal cut dentin. One window on each tooth was irradiated by either Er,Cr:YSGG or CO2 laser, while the other window served as a control. After pH cycling at pH 5.5 for 18 days and pH 4.7 for 16 days, the teeth were sectioned and analyzed using polarized light microscopy with water as the imbibing medium.


RESULTS
The Er,Cr:YSGG irradiated dentin had a mean lesion depth of 207 +/- 27 microm while its control had a mean lesion depth of 209 +/- 34 microm. The CO2 laser irradiated dentin had a mean lesion depth of 185 +/- 24 microm while its control had a mean lesion depth of 205 +/- 22 microm. Based on paired t-tests Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation of dentin did not reduce demineralization when compared to the controls (P= 0.81), while CO2 laser irradiation of dentin showed that it helped reduce demineralization when compared to the controls (P= 0.025).
Darling
Luke A
LA
Department of Prosthodontics and Dows Institute for Dental Research, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Ettinger
Ronald L
RL
Wefel
James S
JS
Cooper
Steven H
SH
Qian
Fang
F
D000328:Adult; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003804:Dentin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000517:prevention & control*