Evaluation of structural and compositional changes on the root surface exposed to diode laser (810 nm): An In-vitro study

BACKGROUND: The laser therapy has been used as an adjuvant for conventional periodontal disease as they exhibit a bactericidal effect on scaling and root planning by its thermal and photo disruptive effects on the pathogens. This study focuses on the structural and compositional changes induced on the root surfaces of teeth following diode laser (DL) application with increasing quantum of exposure time.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the structural and compositional changes on the root surface of extracted human permanent teeth after application of DLs (810 nm) with varying time interval.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty samples of single-rooted periodontally compromised extracted teeth were utilized for this study. Root planning was done and the roughness caused by the instrumentation was measured using profilometric analysis. Then, the samples were divided into four groups, with DL application time: Group 1 - laser application for 15 s, Group 2 - laser application for 30 s, Group 3 - laser application for 45 s, and Group 4 - laser application for 60 s. A scanning electron microscope was used to examine the cemental surface and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis software assesses the compositional changes of the teeth in each group.

RESULTS: This study reveals that on exposure of DL (810 nm) on the root surface when time of exposure increases, there were relative increases in surface irregularities and charring. There were significant changes in the chemical composition of the tooth surface.