title: Potential mechanism for the laser-fluoride effect on enamel demineralization.
abstract: Laser-induced prevention of dental caries has been studied extensively. However, the cariostatic mechanisms of a combined fluoride-laser treatment are not well-understood. Using micro- computed tomography (micro-CT), we quantified the effect of fluoride and/or Er:YAG laser treatment on enamel demineralization. The mean mineral loss (%/V) for each group was 4,870 ± 1,434 (fluoride followed by laser treatment), 6,341 ± 2,204 (laser treatment), 7,669 ± 2,255 (fluoride treatment), and 10,779 ± 2,936 (control). The preventive effect of the laser (p < 0.001) and fluoride (p = 0.010) treatment was statistically significant. Characterized by micro-x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the significant contraction in the a-axis after both laser and combined laser/fluoride treatment was revealed (both p < 0.05). In conclusion, subablative low-energy Er:YAG laser irradiation following fluoride treatment may instantaneously transform enamel hydroxyapatite into fluoridated hydroxyapatite to reduce enamel solubility as a preventive treatment for enamel demineralization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C-Y S
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: C M J
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Teoh
mesh_terms: D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003461:Crystallography; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003747:Dental Enamel Solubility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014089:Tooth Remineralization; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D008903:Minerals; D017886:Durapatite; C025105:fluorapatite; D005459:Fluorides