CO2 laser irradiation combined with fluoridated dentifrice improved its protective effect on caries lesion progression regardless of the acidulated phosphate fluoride gel application: An in situ study

• Published in: Clinical oral investigations Vol. 27; no. 12; pp. 7753 - 7763
• Main Authors: Zancopé, Bruna, Rodrigues, Lívia Pagotto, Lopes, Lenita Marangoni, de-Sousa, Emerson Tavares, Steiner-Oliveira, Carolina, Rodrigues, Lidiany Karla Azevedo, Nobre-dos-Santos, Marinês
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biofilms; Carbon dioxide; Clinical trials; Dental caries; Dental enamel; Dentistry; Enamel; Fluorides; Laser radiation; Lasers; Lesions; Medicine; Remineralization; Sucrose; Dental caries; Fluoride; laser; CO; Enamel
• ISSN: 1436-3771; 1432-6981; 1436-3771
• DOI: 10.1007/s00784-023-05365-9

Objective This in situ study aimed to investigate the efficacy of CO 2 laser at a 10.6-µm wavelength combined with 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) and fluoridated dentifrice with 1100 µg F/g (FD) to control enamel caries progression. Materials and methods Sixteen volunteers wore palatal appliances containing eight demineralized enamel specimens for four 14-day phases under sucrose exposure. These specimens were submitted to CO 2 laser irradiation and APF alone or combined with FD. Treatment groups were non-fluoridated dentifrice—NFD, NFD + CO 2 laser, NFD + APF, NFD + CO 2 laser + APF, FD, FD + CO 2 laser, FD + APF, and FD + CO 2 laser + APF. Mineral loss, calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ), fluorapatite (FAp), and fluoride in the biofilm were analyzed by analysis of variance followed by the Student–Newman–Keuls test, p  < 0.05. Results The highest mineral loss inhibition was noted when FD and CO 2 laser irradiation were combined, which did not significantly differ from the FD + CO 2 laser + APF group. The CaF 2 , FAp, and F in the biofilm were more pronounced when the FD and APF were combined. The CO 2 laser irradiation promoted a slightly higher concentration of CaF 2 in the enamel and F in the biofilm. Conclusion Although APF promotes the high formation of CaF 2 and FAp, the combined use of FD with CO 2 laser overcomes the APF effect in inhibiting the progression of artificial caries-like lesions in situ. Clinical significance Under the in situ design of this study , remineralization of white spot lesions was achieved through CO 2 laser irradiation and daily use of fluoridated dentifrice. Future clinical trials are encouraged to substantiate this finding.