title: Efficacy of Erbium, Chromium-doped:Yttrium, Scandium, Gallium, and Garnet Laser Irradiation Combined with Resin-based Tricalcium Silicate and Calcium Hydroxide on Direct Pulp Capping: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this randomized clinical study was to evaluate the efficiency of erbium, chromium-doped:yttrium, scandium, gallium, and garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser irradiation combined with a resin-based tricalcium silicate material and calcium hydroxide in direct pulp capping for a 6-month follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 teeth of 60 patients between the ages of 18 and 41 years were recruited for this study. Sixty permanent vital teeth without symptoms and radiographic changes were randomly assigned to the following 4 groups (n = 15): Gr CH, the exposed area was sealed with calcium hydroxide (CH) paste; Gr laser CH, the treated area was sealed with CH paste after Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation at an energy level of 0.5 W without water and with 45% air; Gr TheraCal, TheraCal LC (Bisco, Schaumburg, IL) was applied directly to the exposed pulp; and Gr Laser TheraCal, TheraCal LC was applied after irradiation with an Er,Cr:YSGG laser. At the 1-week and 1-, 3-, and 6-month recall examinations, the loss of vitality, spontaneous pain, reactions to thermal stimuli and percussion, and radiographic changes were considered as failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The success rates in the CH and TheraCal groups were 73.3% and 66.6%, respectively. These rates did not reveal any significant difference. In both laser groups, success rates were 100%. The Er,Cr:YSGG laser-irradiated TheraCal and Er,Cr:YSGG laser-irradiated CH groups showed statistically higher success rates than the TheraCal and CH groups, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation at 0.5 W without water combined with pulp capping agents can be recommended for direct pulp therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Near East University, Mersin, Turkey. Electronic address: dtesracengiz@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Near East University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan Guney
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002857:Chromium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004871:Erbium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005708:Gallium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012538:Scandium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D015019:Yttrium / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D008674:Metals, Rare Earth; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents; D002857:Chromium; D015019:Yttrium; D004871:Erbium; D005708:Gallium; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D012538:Scandium
keywords: Calcium hydroxide; direct pulp capping; erbium, chromium-doped:yttrium, scandium, gallium, and garnet laser; tricalcium silicate