AN IN VITRO STUDY OF THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF ARGON LASER IRRADIATION ON HYPERSENSITIVE ROOTS

과민성치근에 대한 Argon laser조사의 치료효과에 관한 실험적 연구

In order to evaluate the therapeutic effect of argon laser irradiation on hypersensitive root, 60 mandibular premolars that had been extracted due to periodontal disease were treated by thorough scaling, root planing and root conditioning with tetracycline HCI(100mg/ml, 5 min.) for induction of hypersensitive root. Within middle one third of root mesial surface(30) or distal surface(30) was randomly irradiated by 0.5W-, 0.75W- and 1.0W-power for 2 minutes argon laser(HGM Inc., USA) with or without topical application of 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride gel(Pascal, USA). After all teeth were maintained in 2% methylene blue solution for 48 hours and cross-sectioned through irradiated surface of dried roots, methylene blue stained area was compared between irradiated side and nonirradiated side. Following results were obtained : 1. Methylene blue stained area was significantly less in the laser irradiated group than control group(p<0.05). 2. There was no significant difference in methylene blue stained area between 0.5W-power and 0.75W-power group(p>0.1) and between 0.75W-power and 1.0W-power group(p>0.1), but there was significant difference between 0.5W-power and 1.0W-power group(p<0.05). 3. There was no significant difference in methylene blue stained area between two groups with and without topical application of 0.12% acidulated phosphate fluoride gel(p>0.1). The results suggest that argon laser irradiation on hypersensitive root may reduce the hypersensitivity by obstruction of dentinal tubules.