Comparison of effects of diode laser and CO2 laser on human teeth and their usefulness in topical fluoridation.

Various authors have reported more effective fluoridation from the use of lasers combined with topical fluoride than from conventional topical fluoridation. Besides the beneficial effect of lasers in reducing the acid solubility of an enamel surface, they can also increase the uptake of fluoride. The study objectives were to compare the action of CO(2) and GaAlAs diode lasers on dental enamel and their effects on pulp temperature and enamel fluoride uptake.

Increased fluoride uptake in human dental specimens treated with diode laser.

The hypothesis of this study was the fact that diode lasers can increase the fluoride uptake in dental structures. The main objectives were: (1) to evaluate the effect of diode laser-NaF varnish combination on binding fluoride to dental enamel in an in vitro model and (2) to analyse outer enamel surface changes produced by the laser energy. After NaF enamel varnish and laser irradiation at different levels of energy, specimen surfaces were examined by environmental scanning electron microscopy.