Root Caries Prevention Potential of Chopped CO2 Laser: an In Vitro Study

Abstract

The objective of this study aimed to assess the caries-preventive potential of various chopped CO2 laser parameters, and to explore the effect of the laser energy density on the caries inhibition activity.
Roots of extracted human premolar teeth were irradiated with three various energy densities (25.47, 50.93, and 101.86) J/cm2, by changing the number of pulses, the pulse duration, and the spot diameter. The CO2 laser system emitted laser with 10.6m in wavelength. All roots were subjected to carieslike lesion formation by 3.5 pH lactic acid for 21 days. The roots after that were sectioned into ground cross sections and the lesion depths were measured under a polarizing microscope.
Chopped CO2 laser preventive treatments inhibited carieslike lesion progression up to 36%. This effect was improved with decreased total energy density within the limits of the examined laser parameters.