Laser Conditioning

A Preferred Option Over Conventional Acid Etching for Orthodontic Bonding

R., Piradhiba
Faizee, Shahul Hameed
Krishnaswamy, N.R.

¹ Sathyabama Dental College and Hospital, Semmancheri, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
² Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Piradhiba R., Sathyabama Dental College and Hospital, Semmancheri, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600119, India. E-mail: [email protected]

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

Journal of Indian Orthodontic Society 55(1):p 33-38, January 2021. | DOI: 10.1177/0301574220957164

Aim:

To evaluate the demineralization resistance and the shear bond strength of enamel surfaces after erbium, chromium: yttrium–scandium–gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser etching (2 W/15 Hz, 2 W/25 Hz) and to compare them with conventional acid etching for orthodontic bonding.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 60 extracted human premolars with intact enamel surface were used for this study. Demineralization Resistance was estimated using ion-coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). Shear bond strength was evaluated using Universal Testing Machine—Instron.

Results:

Statistically significant difference (P < .001) was found in the concentration of dissolved calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), with the highest mean Ca and P in the acid-etched group, followed by 2 W/15 Hz laser-etched group and least with 2 W/25 Hz laser-etched group. Maximum bond strength was found in the acid-etched group (12.06 MPa), followed by the 2 W/25 Hz laser-etched group (9.01 MPa) and 2 W/15 Hz laser-etched group (8.39 MPa). The differences were statistically significant.

Conclusions:

Laser conditioning of enamel surface revealed significant demineralization resistance with a minimal dissolution of Ca and P ions in the demineralizing solution. Moreover, optimum bond strength was obtained similar to that of acid etching; hence, Er,Cr:YSGG laser conditioning of enamel surface is preferred over the conventional phosphoric acid etching for orthodontic bonding.