title: Effect of pretreatment with an Er:YAG laser and fluoride on the prevention of dental enamel erosion.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Er:YAG laser and its association with fluoride (1.23% acidulate phosphate fluoride gel) on the prevention of enamel erosion. Sixty specimens were obtained from bovine enamel (4 × 4 mm), which were ground flat, polished, and randomly divided into five groups according to the preventive treatments: control-fluoride application; L--Er:YAG laser; L+F--laser + fluoride; F+L--fluoride + laser; L/F--laser/fluoride simultaneously. Half of the enamel surface was covered with nail varnish (control area), and the other half was pretreated with one of the preventive strategies to subsequently be submitted to erosive challenge. When the laser was applied, it was irradiated for 10 s with a focal length of 4 mm and 60 mJ/2 Hz. Fluoride gel was applied for 4 min. Each specimen was individually exposed to regular Coca-Cola® for 1 min, four times/day, for 5 days. Wear analysis was performed with a profilometer, and demineralization was assessed with an optical microscope. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test (wear)/Dunn test and ANOVA/Fisher's exact tests. The group L/F was similar to control group. The other groups showed higher wear, which did not present differences among them. In the demineralization assessment, the groups F+L and L/F showed lower demineralization in relation to the other groups. It can be concluded that none preventive method was able to inhibit dental wear. The treatments L/F and F+L showed lower enamel demineralization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. do Café, s/n - Monte Alegre, CEP 14040-904, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: dos Reis Derceli
authors.forename: Juliana Jendiroba
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Faraoni-Romano
authors.forename: Danielle Torres
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bataglion
authors.forename: Regina Guenka
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Palma-Dibb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D005459:Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000188:drug therapy; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D005459:Fluorides