Introduction: Dentin hypersensitivity is a painful dental issue known with a transient and intense pain, when the exposed dentin reacts to various stimuli. Bioactive glass and multiple types of lasers have been tested in treating dentin hypersensitivity. Yet, none have combined them together in occluding exposed dentinal tubules.
Aim of the Study: The current study focused on evaluating the effect of erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser with wavelength 2780 nm and bioactive glass nanoparticles paste either each alone or in combination with different sequences; on dentinal tubules closure.
Methods: Forty healthy extracted premolar teeth were used for this study. They were distributed equally into a control group and 4 experimental groups. Control group: received no treatment. Nano-Bioactive glass group: treated with nano-bioactive glass paste only, Er,Cr:YSGG laser group: received laser irradiation only, Er,Cr:YSGG laser + nano-bioactive glass group: treated with nano-bioactive glass paste after laser irradiation. Nano-bioactive glass + Er,Cr:YSGG laser group: treated with nano-bioactive glass paste before laser irradiation. Dentin samples were evaluated morphologically by scanning electron microscope, with subsequent analysis of the mean diameter of dentinal tubules, and calcium and phosphorous analysis by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.
Results: Nano-bioactive glass + Er,Cr:YSGG laser group showed notably improved dentinal tubules closure in comparison to the other groups through scanning electron microscope imaging. The results were confirmed by the energy dispersive X-ray analysis which revealed the highest calcium and phosphorus weight %, in addition to recording the lowest mean diameter of dentinal tubules.
Conclusion: The application of nano-bioactive glass and, Er,Cr:YSGG laser and the combination of both provided a satisfactory dentinal tubular closure. However, combining both nano-bioactive glass and Er,Cr:YSGG laser was found to be more efficient with superior results, rather than using each modality alone.