Effects of ER,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation and fluoride treatment on acid resistance of the enamel.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Er,Cr:YSGG loser on the enamel's acid resistance when irradiated alone, prior to or after acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) treatment.


METHODS
Eighty-five enamel surfaces were prepared from 17 extracted human premolars and randomly assigned to 5 groups: (1) untreated (control); (2) irradiated with a Er,Cr:YSGG loser; (3) exposed to a 1.23% APF gel; (4) loser-irradiated followed by APF treatment; and (5) APF-treated followed by loser irradiation. The specimens were individually demineralized in 0.2 M acetate buffer solution for 10 days, and the acid resistance was evaluated by determining the calcium ion using atomic absorption spectrometry.


RESULTS
Significant differences were found between group 1 and groups 2 through 5 (P < 0.001). There were no signifIcant differences between groups 2 and 3 (P = 1.000). Compared to groups 2 and 3, a lower calcium content was detected in the demineralization solution for groups 4 and 5. The difference between groups 4 and 5, however, was not statistically significant (P = 0.289).


CONCLUSIONS
Combining ocidulated phosphate fluoride with the Er,Cr:YSGG loser decreased the enamel demineralization more than either fluoride treatment or laser treatment alone.
Moslemi
M
M
Pediatric Department, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. masume_moslemi@yahoo.com
Fekrazad
R
R
Tadayon
N
N
Ghorbani
M
M
Torabzadeh
H
H
Shadkar
M M
MM
D000149:Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001641:Bicuspid; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003747:Dental Enamel Solubility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000517:prevention & control*
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D000149:Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride