<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec>
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>The present ex-vivo study was designed to evaluate the surface roughness and analyse potential adhesive remnants on the enamel surface after composite removal using either an Er:YSGG WaterLase (WL) (Biolase<sup>®</sup>, Irvine, CA, USA) or a tungsten carbide (TC) bur (Alston, England, UK).</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Methods</h3>
<p>An <italic>in vitro</italic> study was designed using 21 extracted lower premolars. Pre-coated stainless steel brackets (3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA) were bonded on all of the teeth except one, which served as a control. The teeth were allocated into two groups: Group 1 (<italic>n</italic> = 5), removal of composite with a TC bur. Group 2 (<italic>n</italic> = 15), removal of composite using the WL. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) were used to determine the surface roughness and atomic composition of the surfaces.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>Group 1 had a median damage depth of 17.6 µm with a range between 11.5 µ m and 28.7 µ m. Group 2 had a median damage depth of 166.3 µ m, with a range between 86.6 to 263.1 µ m. The depth differences between the two groups were statistically significant (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, Mann–Whitney test). The atomic composition of the WL group was similar to sound enamel. The TC group showed a quantitative increase in carbon and silicone by 38.2% and 11.5%, respectively, a decrease in oxygen by 44.1% and an absence of phosphorous and calcium.</p>
</sec>
<sec>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>WL is efficient at removing composite from the enamel surface but could result in increased enamel surface roughness in comparison with conventional TC burs.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Introduction
The present ex-vivo study was designed to evaluate the surface roughness and analyse potential adhesive remnants on the enamel surface after composite removal using either an Er:YSGG WaterLase (WL) (Biolase®, Irvine, CA, USA) or a tungsten carbide (TC) bur (Alston, England, UK).


Methods
An in vitro study was designed using 21 extracted lower premolars. Pre-coated stainless steel brackets (3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA) were bonded on all of the teeth except one, which served as a control. The teeth were allocated into two groups: Group 1 (n = 5), removal of composite with a TC bur. Group 2 (n = 15), removal of composite using the WL. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) were used to determine the surface roughness and atomic composition of the surfaces.


Results
Group 1 had a median damage depth of 17.6 µm with a range between 11.5 µ m and 28.7 µ m. Group 2 had a median damage depth of 166.3 µ m, with a range between 86.6 to 263.1 µ m. The depth differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001, Mann–Whitney test). The atomic composition of the WL group was similar to sound enamel. The TC group showed a quantitative increase in carbon and silicone by 38.2% and 11.5%, respectively, a decrease in oxygen by 44.1% and an absence of phosphorous and calcium.


Conclusion
WL is efficient at removing composite from the enamel surface but could result in increased enamel surface roughness in comparison with conventional TC burs.

<italic>In vitro</italic> evaluation of surface characteristics comparing WaterLase (Biolase<sup>®</sup>) with tungsten carbide burs for composite removal: a pilot study

Australasian Orthodontic Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

 evaluation of surface characteristics comparing WaterLase (Biolase) with tungsten carbide burs for composite removal: a pilot study

Introduction
The present ex-vivo study was designed to evaluate the surface roughness and analyse potential adhesive remnants on the enamel surface after...

In vitro evaluation of surface characteristics comparing WaterLase (Biolase^®) with tungsten carbide burs for composite removal: a pilot study

Published Online: Jul 14, 2022

Page range: 194 - 201

Received: Nov 01, 2021

Accepted: May 01, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoj-2022-0022

© 2022 Mohammed Alkandari et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

In vitro evaluation of surface characteristics comparing WaterLase (Biolase®) with tungsten carbide burs for composite removal: a pilot study

Published Online: Jul 14, 2022

Page range: 194 - 201

Received: Nov 01, 2021

Accepted: May 01, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoj-2022-0022

© 2022 Mohammed Alkandari et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

In vitro evaluation of surface characteristics comparing WaterLase (Biolase^®) with tungsten carbide burs for composite removal: a pilot study