title: The influence of different power settings of Nd:YAG laser irradiation, bioglass and combination to the occlusion of dentinal tubules.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of bioglass, Nd:YAG laser irradiation and their combination on dentinal tubuli occlusion as a potential dentinal hypersensitivity treatment for cervical dentinal hypersensitivity (CDH).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  CDH affects 8-30% of adults and nearly 85% of perio-treated patients. Various treatment schemes have been applied for treating CDH, among them being fluoride application, laser irradiation, and, recently, bioglass (NovaMin(®)). In this in vitro study, we evaluated the efficacy of NovaMin(®) paste (NM) (Denshield, Sultan, USA), Nd:YAG laser irradiation (L) at various power settings, and their combination, on dentinal orifice occlusion (DOO) as potential treatments for CDH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine human dentin surfaces were organized into seven equal groups: groups A and B received NM followed by L (0.5 and 1 W, respectively); groups C and D received L (0.5 and 1 W, respectively) followed by NM; group E received NM; and groups F and G received L (0.5 and 1 W, respectively). Specimens were evaluated with regard to DOO under environmental scanning electron microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment modality significantly affected DOO (p=0.012). Groups B and G scored higher DOO than the rest. By ordinal logistic regression (with boostrap standard errors), the combination of NM followed by 1 W Nd:YAG laser irradiation (group B) significantly (p<0.001) contributed to DOO, compared with groups A, C, D, E, and F.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under the limitations of this study, Nd:YAG laser irradiation at 1 W, alone or combined with NM, is a superior method for producing DOO, and may lead to an effective treatment modality for CDH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Dental School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. elefarm@dent.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Eleftherios-Terry R
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Farmakis
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beer
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kozyrakis
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pantazis
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moritz
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002516:Ceramics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003806:Dentin Permeability / Q000528:radiation effects; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: C022107:Bioglass; D001843:Bone Cements