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Er:YAG Laser Applications for Debonding Different Ceramic Restorations: An In Vitro Study
Ruxandra Elena Luca1,2, Anișoara Giumancă-Borozan3, Iosif Hulka4
1University Clinic of Oral Rehabilitation and Dental Emergencies, Faculty of Dentistry, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
|July 30, 2025
Summary
Erbium:YAG laser debonding effectively removes ceramic fixed prosthetic restorations (FPRs) with minimal damage to teeth. Layered zirconia and feldspathic restorations showed the highest success rates in this study.
Area of Science:
- Dental Materials Science
- Laser Dentistry
- Prosthodontics
Background:
- Conventional methods for removing cemented fixed prosthetic restorations (FPRs) are often destructive and inefficient.
- Existing techniques can damage abutment teeth and rarely allow for restoration reuse.
- Lasers, specifically Erbium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) and Erbium, Chromium-doped Yttrium Scandium Gallium Garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG), show promise for safer FPR removal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Er:YAG laser radiation for debonding various types of ceramic fixed prosthetic restorations (FPRs).
- To compare the performance of different ceramic materials (feldspathic, lithium disilicate, layered zirconia, monolithic zirconia) under Er:YAG laser action.
- To assess the impact of laser debonding on the integrity of both the restorations and the underlying dental structures.
Main Methods:
- Sixteen extracted teeth were prepared as abutments and restored with four types of ceramic restorations: feldspathic (F), lithium disilicate (LD), layered zirconia (LZ), and monolithic zirconia (MZ).
- Restorations were cemented using two different luting agents (RELYX and Variolink DC).
- An Er:YAG laser (Fotona StarWalker MaQX) was used at specific parameters (275 mJ, 20 Hz, 5.5 W) with air/water cooling to debond the restorations, followed by electron microscopy analysis.
Main Results:
- Out of 23 debonded ceramic FPRs, 12 remained intact. Electron microscopy confirmed no damage to the tooth structure.
- Success rates for intact debonding varied by material: 100% for layered zirconia (LZ) and feldspathic (F), 87% for lithium disilicate (LD), and 0% for monolithic zirconia (MZ).
- Debonding success rates were 75% with RELYX cement and 69% with Variolink DC cement.
Conclusions:
- Er:YAG laser radiation offers a conservative and effective method for debonding the majority of ceramic fixed prosthetic restorations.
- Layered zirconia and feldspathic ceramics demonstrate high success rates for laser-assisted debonding.
- Further research may be needed to optimize laser parameters for materials like monolithic zirconia and evaluate cement-specific outcomes.
