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Morphological and chemical changes of deciduous enamel produced by Er:YAG laser, fluoride, and combined treatment
Carmen M Zamudio-Ortega1, Rosalía Contreras-Bulnes, Rogelio J Scougall-Vilchis
11 Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México , Facultad de Odontología, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Odontología (CIEAO), Toluca, Estado de México, México .
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro morphological and chemical changes on human deciduous enamel produced by Er:YAG laser irradiation, fluoride application, combined treatment, and acid dissolution.
Background Data:
Er:YAG laser has been proposed as a potential preventive dental caries strategy. There is scarce information regarding deciduous enamel.
Methods:
Eighty enamel samples were assigned to eight groups (n=10): G1, control; G2, G3, and G4, Er:YAG laser irradiation at 7.5, 12.7, and 39.8 J/cm(2), respectively; G5, fluoride application; G6, G7, and G8, irradiation at previous densities plus fluoride application. Morphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, and chemical composition was determined by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy before treatment (BT), after treatment (AT), and after acid dissolution (AAD). One way and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used (p≤0.05).
Results:
Morphology of lased surfaces included craters, exposed prisms, fractures, and melting. No morphological modifications appeared after fluoride application, or AAD. Chemically, AT: C atomic percentage (at%) decreased in G3, G4, and G8; O at% decreased in G5-G8; F content was higher for G7; trace elements remained under 1.0 at%; Ca at % increased in G4, G7, and G8; there were increments in P at% in G4 and G8; and Ca/P increased in G4, G7, and G8. AAD: F at% dropped to 0.00 in G5-G8; and P at% increased in G7.
Conclusions:
Morphological changes of Er:YAG irradiated enamel represented mild to severe damages. Conditions employed in this study are not recommended for deciduous caries prevention. Er:YAG energy density influenced chemical changes in enamel to enhance its structure. Acid dissolution removed fluoride from enamel surface.
