Effects of Nd: YAG laser irradiation on the adaptation of composite resins to root dentin.

One of the most important goals of the restoration of endodontically treated teeth with a composite resin post system is to achieve good adaptation of the composite material to dentin walls to prevent microleakage apically and coronally. In post core systems, to avoid microleakage between the dentin wall and resin material, laser irradiation may seem to be an alternative therapy for increasing adaptation quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the adaptation of a packable composite resin to lased root canal dentin when it was used as post material. Forty-five freshly extracted human teeth were selected and post spaces were prepared. The teeth were divided into three groups. In group 1 the dentin of the post spaces were etched with 35% phosphoric acid, in group 2 the dentin surfaces were irradiated with an Nd: YAG laser, and in group 3 the dentin surfaces were initially treated with the laser and then etched. The teeth of all groups were obturated with a bonding agent and composite. The groups were divided into two subgroups: a group for the scanning electron microscope (SEM) study and a group for the microleakage study. The lased group showed poor adaptation and more microleakage was detected (p<0.05; variance analysis). The laser beam and acid-etching showed no advantage compared to the acid-etching alone (p>0.05). The Nd: YAG laser irradiation adversely affects adhesion to dentin for using composite resin as a post material and does not constitute an alternative to acid-etching.