Influence of Different Proportions of External Irrigation During the Er,Cr:YSGG Laser Irradiation on Wear and Roughness of Root Surface.

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different levels of external irrigation during irradiation with an erbium, chromium: yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser on the roughness and wear of dental tissue during scaling procedures. METHODS Twenty-Five uniradicular bovine teeth had the proximal surfaces planed and divided into 3 regions: upper, middle and lower. The upper region was treated with hand instruments, the middle region was not treated and served as a control, and the lower region was treated by the Er,Cr:YSGG laser. The teeth were randomly divided into five groups according to the different proportions of external irrigation used during the laser irradiation: G1: 10%; G2: 20%; G3: 30%; G4: 40% and G5: 50%. The samples were analyzed for roughness and wear on the root surface irradiated with the laser. RESULTS There were no differences in the surface roughness and wear parameters between the groups irradiated with the laser, but the laser irradiation produced a rougher surface of the dentin than treatment with hand scaling. CONCLUSION Changes in the external irrigation level did not influence the wear and roughness of root surfaces treated with an Er,Cr:YSGG laser.