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Published on: January 10, 2025
Topographical characteristics and shear bond strength of tooth surfaces cut with a laser-powered hydrokinetic system
S Lin1, A A Caputo, L R Eversole
1Department of Biomaterials Science, University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.
Statement Of Problem:
Erbium lasers, specifically Er;YAG and Er, Cr;YSGG that emit in the near red wavelengths, cut both enamel and dentine. Bonding to these cut surfaces with composites has not been assessed for all laser systems.
Purpose:
This investigation assessed the shear bond strength of composite bonded to tooth structure treated with an Er,Cr;YSGG-powered hydrokinetic system (HKS, Millennium system) and then was compared with surfaces treated with a carbide bur.
Material And Methods:
Extracted human molars were cut into enamel and dentin with both systems. Nonetched and acid-etched subgroups were evaluated. Shear bond strength was measured with an Instron test machine with a knife-edge loading head. In addition, SEMs were evaluated.
Results:
There were no significant differences in shear bond strength between etched bur cut (23.3 +/- 2.5 MPa), etched laser-cut enamel (23.7 +/- 4.5 MPa), and nonetched laser-cut enamel (20.5 +/- 2.8 MPa). For nonetched enamel, bond strength values for laser-cut surfaces were significantly higher than the bur-cut surfaces (8.7 +/- 4.3 MPa). Bond strength differences for dentin between bur (14.3 +/- 1.7 MPa) and laser cuts (11.5 +/- 4.3 MPa) were not significant (P =.03). SEM revealed that laser cutting of enamel did not cause formation of a smear layer.
Conclusion:
There were no significant differences in shear bond strength between etched bur-cut, etched laser-cut, and nonetched laser-cut enamel. With nonetched enamel, bond strength values for nonetched laser-cut surfaces were significantly higher than for the bur-cut surfaces. No bond strength differences between bur and laser cutting existed for dentin. Similar topography was observed for bur and laser prepared surfaces of etched enamel and nonetched dentin.
