title: Effects of laser-assisted fluoride therapy with a CO2 laser and Er, Cr:YSGG laser on enamel demineralization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the irradiation efficacy of the CO(2) laser and the Er, Cr:YSGG laser-either unassisted or assisted by acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) treatment-on enamel's acid resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty enamel samples, obtained from 20 extracted human molars, were randomly assigned to 6 groups as follows: (1) control (C); (2) exposed to acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel (F); (3) Er, Cr:YSGG laser (EL); (4) irradiated with Er, Cr:YSGG laser through APF gel (EL/F); (5) CO(2) laser (CL); and (6) irradiated with CO(2) laser through APF gel (CL/F). The specimens were individually demineralized in an acidified hydroxyethylcellulose system, and the acid resistance was evaluated by determining the calcium ion using atomic absorption spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average concentration of the calcium ion determined in groups C, F, EL, EL/F, CL, and CL/F was, respectively, 3.36, 2.63, 2.26, 2.32, 2.24, and 1.51 ppm. The results showed that demineralization in the: CL/F group was significantly less than the other groups; and the control group was significantly more than the other groups (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effect of CO(2) laser irradiation, used with acidulated phosphate fluoride, in decreasing the enamel demineralization was more than all the other groups.
authors.affiliation: Operative Department, School of Dentistry, Tehran branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid Nemati
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Anaraki
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serajzadeh
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fekrazad
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003743:Dental Enamel; D004871:Erbium; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D017001:Tooth Demineralization
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004871:Erbium; D005459:Fluorides