amalgam surface treatment by different output powers of er:yag laser:sem evaluation

introduction: the purpose of this study was to evaluate amalgam surfaces treated by different output powers of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (er:yag) laser by scanning electron microscope (sem). methods: twenty-one amalgam blocks (8 mm × 8 mm, 3 mm thickness) were prepared by condensing silver amalgam (into putty impression material. after keeping them for 24 hours in distilled water, they were divided into 7 groups as follow: g1: er:yag laser (1 w, 50 mj), g2: er:yag laser (2 w, 100 mj), g3: er:yag laser (3 w, 150 mj), g4: sandblast, g5: sandblast + er:yag laser (1 w, 50 mj), g6: sandblast +er:yag laser (2 w, 100 mj) and g7: sandblast +er:yag laser (3 w, 150 mj). then after preparation of all samples, they were examined by sem. results: the sem results of amalgam surfaces treated by different output powers of er:yag laser showed some pitting areas with non-homogenous irregularities conclusion: it seems that the application of sandblasting accompanied by er:yag laser irradiation can provide proper surface for bonding of orthodontic brackets.