Morphological alteration of root surfaces after aplicoectomy and Nd: yag laser irradiation: an in vitro study

Abstract

Introduction: success rates of apical surgery are variable, and there are several causes of failure related in the literature. Among them, permeability of exposed dentin at the apical surface after apicoectomies has been receiving much attention, Nd: YAG laser irradiation can decrease this permeability, but its effects on root surface are not completely known. Objectives: evaluate morphological alterations of apical surface, specially surface smoothness, after Nd: YAG non contact laser irradiation, in different powers, in vitro. Material and Methods: thirty extracted human cuspids, maintained in distilled water had its crowns removed, and were endodontically treated in standard technique. Apicoectomy performed, removing 4 mm most apical of roots, using handpiece. Teeth were divided in three groups of 10 each. Half of the area of each apical surface was irradiated with Nd:YAG laser in non contact mode, for 30 seconds. Three different powers were used- three groups of 10 each. Half of the area of each apical surface was irradiated.