ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study's purpose was to evaluate the acid resistance of demineralized enamel irradiated with high-intensity lasers. METHODS: Enamel fragments were demineralized and treated as follows (N=10): Group 1-no treatment; Group 2-five percent sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish; Group 3-Er, Cr:YSGG laser (8.92 J/cm2, 0.5 W, 20 Hz, 30 seconds); Group 4-NaF and Er, Cr:YSGG laser; Group 5-Er, Cr:YSGG laser and NaF; Group 6-Nd:YAG laser (84.9 J/cm2, 0.5 W, 10 Hz, 30 seconds); Group 7-NaF and Nd:YAG laser; and Group 8-Nd:YAG laser and NaF. The samples were subjected to pH-cycling and assessed by microhardness (analysis of variance; α equals five percent) at different depths from the outer enamel surface. Samples were observed using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the experimental groups in any of the subsurface layers evaluated. PLM observation revealed that the extent of demineralization of the irradiated samples was similar to the samples for Group 1 (control). SEM observation showed that irradiated surfaces were ablated and presented areas of melting. CONCLUSIONS: Laser irradiation, with or without applying five percent sodium fluoride, was not capable of increasing the enamel white spot lesions' acid resistance.
