A study by Weterman, et al, originally published in Pediatric Dentistry, assessed the effect of argon laser irradiation of the enamel surface on microhardness of the enamel. The study involved 12 mandibular permanent molars that were sectioned to obtain 4 flat enamel surfaces per tooth. The surfaces were assigned to the following treatment groups: control (no treatment); 4-minute, 1.23% APF gel treatment; low-fluence argon laser irradiation (11.5J/cm2 [0.231-W 5-mm beam size for 10 seconds]); the same argon laser irradiation followed by APF gel treatment. After treatment, enamel hardness was assessed using a 1,000-gram load and a 12-second dwell time, with 5 measurements from each enamel surface. The study found that argon irradiation alone, or in combination with APF treatment, resulted in higher microhardness values, compared to the group receiving only APF treatment and the control group. There appeared to be no advantage to the use of APF treatment; it is likely that the argon laser irradiation alone produced the improved enamel hardness. It is hoped that argon laser irradiation of enamel surfaces could result in greater resistance to acid attack.
(Source: Dental Abstracts, Vol. 49, No. 3, 2004)
