title: Evaluation of Bone Healing After Osteotomies Prepared With Er:YAG Laser in Contact and Noncontact Modes and Piezosurgery--An Animal Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the healing of bone tissue treated with Er:YAG laser contact and noncontact modes of and piezosurgery in a rat model using triangular laser profilometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four 10-week-old adult male Wistar rats were used in the study. Three osteotomies on the medial part of tibia were performed in each animal, 1 in the right tibia and 2 in the left tibia. The osteotomies were performed with a piezoelectric device set at maximal power and the Er:YAG laser in contact mode (power, 7.5 W; pulse energy, 375 mJ; repetition rate, 20 Hz; MSP mode) and noncontact mode (power, 7.5 W; pulse energy, 750 mJ; repetition rate, 10 Hz; QSP mode) with a novel type of circular, digitally controlled handpiece (x-Runner). After surgery, 6 animals were immediately euthanized (group 1), and the others were euthanized after 1 week (group 2, n = 6), 2 weeks (group 3, n = 6), and 3 weeks (group 4, n = 6). Bone healing after osteotomy was analyzed using a 3-dimensional laser scanning technique (ie, laser triangulation profilometry).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The volume reduction rates are similar for all 3 techniques (0.2 to 0.25 mm(3) per week). Greater volume reduction of 0.25 mm3 per week was observed for the Er:YAG laser in noncontact mode (x-Runner). After 3 weeks, almost complete healing of the prepared osteotomy was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limitations of this study, the osteotomies performed by the Er:YAG laser in digitally controlled noncontact mode healed the fastest.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Oral Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gabrić
authors.affiliation: PhD Student, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blašković
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Stomatology, Ss Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia.
authors.forename: Elizabeta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gjorgijevska
authors.affiliation: Researcher, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia.
authors.forename: Mitko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mladenov
authors.affiliation: Researcher, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana; R&D Engineer, Fotona dd, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Blaž
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tašič
authors.affiliation: Higher Assistant, Department of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: bago@sfzg.hr.
authors.forename: Ivona Bago
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Jurič
authors.affiliation: Professor, Institute of Physics, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ticijana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ban
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D023421:Models, Animal; D009929:Organ Size; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D059745:Piezosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012984:Software; D013977:Tibia / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology