Effect of Er:YAG laser on enamel demineralization around restorations

This study evaluates in situ the effect of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser parameters on the development of caries-like lesions adjacent to dental restorations. One hundred fifty bovine enamel slabs were randomly allocated among 15 volunteers. The specimens were subdivided into ten groups: nine experimental groups prepared with Er:YAG laser (300 mJ output, frequency of 2, 4 or 6 Hz, water flow rate of 2.0, 5.0, or 8.0 mL/min) and one control group (high-speed handpiece). The prepared cavity was restored with a composite resin, and the slabs were mounted on palatal appliance to be installed in the volunteers to the cariogenic challenge. After this, the specimens were sectioned to the longitudinal microhardness measurements. Data were submitted to Friedman and Wilcoxon paired tests. All groups prepared with Er:YAG laser demonstrated microhardness values higher than those prepared with high-speed handpiece, which showed the lowest microhardness values (24.86). The group prepared with Er:YAG laser (2 Hz-2.0 mL/min) showed the highest microhardness values (152.43), followed by those prepared with Er:YAG laser (2 Hz-5.0 mL/min) (133.08) and Er:YAG laser (2 Hz-8.0 mL/min) (91.61), respectively. The groups Er:YAG laser with 4 and 6 Hz of frequency and water flow rates of 2.0, 5.0, and 8.0 mL/min showed microhardness values lower than the groups cited above and showed statistical similarity among them. The Er:YAG laser parameters employed to cavity preparation influenced the acid resistance of the irradiated substrate, and the Er:YAG laser was capable to control the development of caries-like lesions around composite resin restorations.