THE EFFECT OF C02 LASER ON EARLY CARIOUS LESIONS IN PRIMARY TEETH AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF ITS EFFECT ON HARD DENTAL TISSUES

Abstract

This study was conducted to:

I- study the effect of C02 laser and conventional method on early carious lesions in primary teeth (in-vivo study).

II- In -vitro study:

1) To investigate the morphological and structural changes by C02 laser and conventional method on hard dental tissues using scanning electron microscope

2) To compare the microhardness values of lased and unlased teeth.

Sixty patients randomly selected from out patient clinic of the Pedodontic department, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University were included in this study, their ages ranged from 4- 7 years old, with initial caries in second primary molar, according to criteria of WH0,1997.

They were grouped according to treatment modality for canes removal and cavity preparation into lased group (group I) and unlased group (conventional or group II).

Radiographic evaluation was done before & after treatment. Direct Digital Radiography was taken using Digora system by an imaging phosphor plate as image detector to assess changes in enamel and dentin density.

Sixty extracted teeth were divided into two groups, thirty specimens each according to assessment technique.