Efficacy of Er Cr: YSGG laser therapy at different frequency and power levels on bond integrity of composite to bleached enamel

The aim was to evaluate the influence of Er, Cr: YSGG laser therapy at different pulse frequency and power levels on the bond strength and microleakage of bleached enamel. One hundred samples were bleached using in-office whitening agent. Bleached samples were divided into six subgroups, four subgroups was based on laser application parameters (pulse frequency 50 and 30 Hz; Power 4.5 & 6 W) one subgroup was treated with bleach (B) and the other was control (no bleaching, no laser application). All specimens including control were etched with 37% phosphoric acid and composite build-ups were performed. Ten specimens from all the groups (B: Bleach only, L1: 50 Hz-4.5 W, L2: 50 Hz-6 W, L3: 30 Hz-4.5 W, L4:50 Hz-6W & C: Control) were assessed for shear bond strength and microleakage scores. Ten samples from all groups were immersed in 2% methylene blue for 24 h and assessed under a digital microscope for microleakage. The lowest mean bond strength was achieved in bleached group (9.49 +/- 0.95) and maximum bond strength was observed in control group (33.97 +/- 0.86). The highest mean microleakage score was found in bleached specimens (group B) (630.32 +/- 156.58) and the lowest in controls (group C) (36.66 +/- 27.33). Among assessed laser frequency and power combinations, 4.5 W and 30 Hz frequency showed maximum adhesive bond integrity (high bond strength and low microleakage) for bleached enamel samples.