title: Effect of Er: YAG or Nd:YAG Laser Exposure on Fluorosed and Non-Fluorosed Root Surfaces: An In Vitro Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fluorosis affects tooth mineralization. The therapeutic benefit provided by lasers on fluorosed and non fluorosed cementum requires studying and comparing. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the root surface changes following Er:YAG or Nd:YAG laser irradiation on periodontally healthy fluorosed versus non-fluorosed teeth by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 76 periodontally healthy fluorosed (FH) and non-fluorosed (NFH) teeth specimens were included in this study. In one group, the experimental root specimens were irradiated using Er:YAG or with Nd:YAG laser in the other. A SEM evaluation was performed to assess the laser induced ultra structural changes in the root surface followed by statistical analysis using Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that both FH and NFH groups were similarly affected by Nd:YAG or Er:YAG laser. However, the former caused more surface changes than the latter on melting of surface (p=0.12 for FH and p=0.08 for NFH), and Er:YAG laser caused more smear layer formation (p=0.51 for FH and p=0.16 for NFH).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RESULTS suggest that undesirable morphological changes were observed almost similarly in FH and NFH groups using Er:YAG or Nd:YAG laser. Hence further in-vitro studies at lower energy settings followed by clinical trials are required in this aspect.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Periodontics, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Kharidi Vandana
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Laxman
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Periodontics, College of Dental Sciences, Davangere, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Saubhik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Bangalore Institute of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Kunaal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dhingra
authors.affiliation: Private practitioner, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Roopa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patil
keywords: Er:YAG laser; Nd:YAG laser; cementum; diseased root surface; fluorosis; healthy root surface