title: Topical laser application enhances enamel fluoride uptake and tribological properties.
abstract: Topical fluoride treatment prevents dental caries. However, the resulting calcium-fluoride-like deposits are soft and have poor wear resistance; therefore, frequent treatment is required. Lasers quickly heat surfaces and can be made portable and suitable for oral remedies. We examined the morphology, nanohardness, elastic modulus, nanowear, and fluoride uptake of fluoride-treated enamel followed by CO2 laser irradiation for 5 and 10 sec, respectively. We found that laser treatments significantly increased the mechanical properties of the calcium-fluoride-like deposits. The wear resistance of the calcium-fluoride-like deposits improved about 34% after laser irradiation for 5 sec and about 40% following irradiation for 10 sec. We also found that laser treatments increased fluoride uptake by at least 23%. Overall, laser treatment significantly improved fluoride incorporation into dental tissue and the wear resistance of the protective calcium-fluoride layer.
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering of National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi, 62100, Taiwan. imeyrj@ccu.edu.tw
authors: Y-R
authors: YR
authors: Jeng
authors: T-T
authors: TT
authors: Lin
authors: J-S
authors: JS
authors: Huang
authors: S-R
authors: SR
authors: Peng
authors: D-B
authors: DB
authors: Shieh
mesh_terms: D002124:Calcium Fluoride / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003461:Crystallography; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors; D057085:Tooth Wear / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D002124:Calcium Fluoride; D005459:Fluorides
keywords: dental enamel; fluorides; laser therapy; mechanical phenomena; nanomedicine; scanning electron microscopy