Role of surface tension and roughness on the wettability of Er:YAG laser irradiated dentin: In vitro study.

Abstract

The aim of this "in vitro" study was to evaluate the role of surface tension and surface roughness in the wettability, considered essential for a good adhesion, comparing Er:YAG laser - to bur-prepared dentin. Dentin surfaces of third human molars were Er:YAG laser- and bur-prepared to evaluate the effects of surface tension and roughness on wettability and interferometric analysis was used to compare the roughness of the two groups surfaces, after gold-coating them. In bur-prepared samples the time taken for the water drop to spread out was approximately the same with or without metallization while, in the Er:YAG laser-prepared surfaces the spreading-out time was less than 10 seconds but longer after metallization i.e. nearly two minutes. Large differences in wettability measurements were observed because the water drop was almost immediately absorbed on the Er:YAG laser-prepared surface. The wettability test demonstrated that the porous and hydrophilic properties of Er:YAG laser-prepared surfaces are higher than bur-prepared surfaces. Surface tension, surface morphology and porosity had different effects on the spreading time of a water drop on both Er:YAG laser- and bur-prepared surfaces. And, while surface tension does not seem to influence the results, roughness appears to be the main parameter involved in water drop spreading, this being an indication, by the clinical point of view, to the choice of Er:YAG laser parameters in conservative dentistry.