THE EFFECT OF LASER IRRADIATION ON THE SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS OF TOOTH ENAMEL

A recent laboratory study has demonstrated improved caries lesion resistance with enamel that was exposed to laser irradiation for very short time period. When topical fluoride treatment was performed before or after laser irradiation, reductions in dental caries. The purpose of this scanning electron microscopic(SEM) study and atomic force microscope study was to characterize surface alterations in tooth enamel after in vitro laser irradiation alone and combined topical fluoride treatment either before or after laser irradiation. The treatment effects of laser irradiation led to the formation of an irregular, mild porosities and fine fissures, also created granular materials. But when laser irradiation was followed by APF, the enamel surface had homogenous architecture. The result led to the caries resistance effects by these granular structures have been considered to represent redeposited mineral phases due to the mobilization of calcium, phosphate, and fluoride from lased enamel.