A study on the change of root surface irradiated by Er:YAG laser / 대한치주과학회지

ABSTRACT

This study was performed to evaluate the usability of ErYAG laser for periodontal therapy. Forty dental root slabs (5x5x2mm3) were prepared from human periodontally diseased extracted teeth and grouped into 4 groups 1) control (root planing only), 2) root planing and irradiated with laser at 30mJ, 3) root planing and irradiated with laser at 60mJ, and 4) root planing and irradiated with laser at 100mJ. The root slabs were embedded in resin block before laser treatment. ErYAG laser was irradiated under water irrigation with the tip held perpendicular to the root surface in contact mode. After ErYAG laser irradiation or planing on the root surface, morphological changes have been observed under SEM, and the micro-hardness and Ca/P ratio were compared. 1. In the control group, the root surface showed and the presence of smear layer, the directional change caused by root planing instrumentation and no exposure of dentinal tubule was observed. Laser irradiated group showed surface changes with rough dentin surface of niche and depression and dentinal tubule exposure by the elimination of smear layer. 2. The micro-hardness of root surface in the laser irradiated group, was higher than the control group. The higher energy output was applied, the higher micro-hardness on root surface was resulted. 3. The higher energy output was applied, the higher Ca/P ratio was observed. The higher Ca/P ratio in 60mJ group and 100mJ group was statistically significant, compared to the control group and the 30mJ group. These results suggest that ErYAG laser irradiation on the periodontally diseased root surface could remove smear layer and increase the micro-hardness on root surface and Ca/P ratio which contribute to enhance the acid resistance of periodontally treated root surface.