Scanning Electron Microscopic Analyses of the Effects of Different Disinfectant Methods on Dentinal Structure

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prepared dentin surface and to determine whether or not it is possible to seal the dentinal tubules, after different cavity disinfectant applications. Thirty mandibular molars were sectioned parallel to the occlusal plane to expose the midcoronal dentin. All of the teeth were divided into five groups (n = 6 per group): (1) in group OZ, the dentin surfaces were exposed to ozone gas from the Ozonytron XP delivery system, (2) in group ED, the dentin surfaces were irradiated with an Er:YAG laser, (3) in group ND, the dentin surfaces were irradiated with an Nd:YAG laser, (4) in group CHX, the dentin surfaces were treated with a 2% chlorhexidine solution, and (5) in the control group, no treatment was applied. Significant differences among the test groups were also observed in the scanning electron microscopy evaluation (P < .05). Scanning electron microscopy showed that the effect of laser energy on dentin varied from cratering, poring, fissuring, fracturing and cracking up to melting; also, the dentinal tubules were not sealed, in contrast with the control group. No formation of smear layer and open dentinal tubules were obtained by using Er:YAG laser irradiation. Clinical article(J Int Dent Med Res 2013; 6: (2), pp. 65-68)