Nd:YAG laser in caries prevention: a clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
It is widely known that Nd:YAG can increase enamel resistance to demineralization; however, there are no studies that report the application of Nd:YAG associated with topical application of fluoride in vivo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Nd:YAG laser, when associated with the topical application of acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF), for preventing enamel demineralization in vivo.


METHODS
A double-blind crossover experimental design was used, in which 121 teeth of 33 volunteers were selected. In all volunteers, the right side teeth were selected for Nd:YAG laser+APF application (lased group) and the left side teeth were kept as control group (only APF application). Nd:YAG laser was applied at 60 mJ/pulse, at a repetition rate of 10 Hz and fluence of 84.9 J/cm(2); after that, topical APF was applied for 4 minutes. Recalls were made after 1 year in order to evaluate the formation of white-spot lesions or caries cavities.


RESULTS
After 1 year, this in vivo experiment showed a reduction of 39.2% in caries incidence in lased group when compared with the control. The number of white-spots or caries cavities decreased significantly (P = 0.0043) in the Nd:YAG laser group; the formation of white-spots was significantly less (P = 0.0031) when compared with the number of lesions in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined Nd:YAG laser and topical fluoride treatment was effective for reducing the incidence of caries in vivo.
Zezell
Denise Maria
DM
Centro de Lasers e Aplicações, IPEN/CNEN-SP, São Paulo, Brazil. zezell@usp.br
Boari
Heloisa Gomes D
HG
Ana
Patricia Aparecida
PA
Eduardo
Carlos de Paula
Cde P
Powell
Glen Lynn
GL
D000149:Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy
D000149:Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride