A Master’s thesis was discussed at the Institute of Laser for Postgraduate Studies – University of Baghdad, submitted by the student Noor Ismail Hadi, entitled:
“Impact of Er,Cr:YSGG Laser Followed by Silver Diamine Fluoride on Artificially Carious Teeth” Supervised by Prof. Dr. Hussein Ali Jawad.
This study aims to evaluate the effect of using Er,Cr:YSGG laser with a wavelength of 2780 nm in combination with Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) in improving the resistance of demineralized dentin and arresting the progression of caries, as well as investigating the effect of the application sequence of the laser and the material on the physical and chemical properties of dentin.
The study included laboratory experiments on samples of human dentin, which were subjected to demineralization cycles to simulate caries conditions, then divided into different groups including the use of silver diamine fluoride alone, the use of Er,Cr:YSGG laser alone, as well as applying both treatments in two different sequences; laser followed by silver diamine fluoride, and silver diamine fluoride followed by laser.
The effect of the different treatments was also evaluated by studying the microhardness of dentin and surface roughness, as well as analyzing surface changes and elemental composition using microscopic examination and spectroscopic analysis techniques, aiming to determine the ability of these treatments to enhance the surface properties of demineralized dentin.
The results showed that the combination of Er,Cr:YSGG laser and silver diamine fluoride significantly improved dentin properties compared to using each alone, while applying the laser first and then silver diamine fluoride achieved the best results, indicating the importance of the treatment application sequence in enhancing mineral deposition and improving dentin resistance to cariogenic factors.
The study highlights the promising potential of integrating laser technologies with modern therapeutic materials in developing effective methods to limit the progression of dental caries and enhance the resistance of dental tissues, which opens future prospects for applying these techniques in the field of preventive and therapeutic dentistry.
