Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the post space volume changes following removal of glass fiber posts in endodontically treated teeth by using erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser to the conventional ultrasonic method.
Materials and methods: Twelve single-root human extracted teeth were cut into 13 mm near cementoenamel junction (CEJ), and then underwent endodontic treatment. The post spaces were prepared to 8 mm in length. Glass fiber posts were inserted with self-curing resin cement. Specimens were randomly assigned to laser or ultrasonic methods for their post removal. Post space volumes were measured using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) before post cementation and after post removal. Dentin thickness was measured after post removal at coronal, middle, and apical third of the root canal space. Paired t-test and t-test were used to compare space volumes between before post cementation and after post removal, and between laser and ultrasonic groups, respectively.
Results: Six specimens were tested for each group. The average volume change was 6.499 mm3 in laser and 7.418 mm3 in ultrasonic method. There was not a significant difference between laser and ultrasonic group in respect of post space volume changes (p = 0.71). Both methods showed significant volume increase following post removal (p < 0.05). Significantly less dentin was lost when laser was used for post removal in the coronal portion of the post space (p = 0.002).
Conclusions: Er,Cr:YSGG laser can be used as effective option, comparable to the conventional ultrasonic method when removing posts in endodontically treated teeth. Laser has the potential to provide conservative post removal.
Keywords: Er,Cr:YSGG laser; Tomography; fiber post; post removal; ultrasonic.
© 2021 by the American College of Prosthodontists.