The effect of erbium, chromium:yttrium–scandium–gallium–garnet laser etching on marginal integrity of a resin-based fissure sealant in primary teeth

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of erbium, chromium:yttrium–scandium–gallium–garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser pretreatment alone, or associated with acid etching, on the quality of marginal integrity (microleakage and marginal gap) of a resin-based fissure sealant in primary teeth. Fifty sound primary molar teeth were randomly assigned to one of five study groups, pretreated as follows: (1) 35% orthophosphoric acid etching; (2) 2.5 W laser etching; (3) 3.5 W laser etching; (4) 2.5 W laser + 35% orthophosphoric acid etching; (5) 3.5 W laser + 35% orthophosphoric acid etching. After surface pretreatment, a resin-based sealant (ClinPro) was applied to the fissures. Sample teeth were then subjected to thermocycling and stored thereafter in distilled water at 37°C for 1 month. Following immersion in 0.5% basic fuchsin solution for 24 h, three bucco-lingual slices of each sample tooth were scored under a stereo-microscope. Statistical analysis was performed with Kruskal–Wallis one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson chi-square tests. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Microleakage scores of group 1 were significantly less than those of groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.05), whereas no statistically significant difference was observed between groups 1, 4 and 5 (P > 0.05). In terms of marginal gap formation, no significant difference was observed between groups (P > 0.05). It was concluded that Er,Cr:YSGG laser etching did not eliminate the need for acid etching. When combined with acid etching, Er,Cr:YSGG laser seems to be as effective as conventional acid etching.