Protective effect of adhesive systems associated with neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser on enamel erosive/abrasive wear

Aim: This study evaluated the efficacy of self-etching adhesive systems associated or not associated with the neodymiumdoped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser on the protection against enamel erosive/abrasive wear. Materials and methods: Bovine enamel specimens were demineralized with 0.3% citric acid (5 minutes). The samples were randomly assigned to eight groups (n = 20): SB - Single Bond Universal (3M/ESPE); SB+L - Single Bond Universal + laser (80 mJ/10 Hz); FB - Futurabond U (Voco); FB+L - Futurabond U + laser; GEN - G-aenial bond (GC); GEN+L - G-aenial bond + laser; L - laser irradiation; and C - no treatment. The laser was applied before light curing. The samples were subjected to erosive/abrasive challenges (0.3% citric acid - 2 minutes and tooth brushing four times daily for 5 days). Enamel surface loss was recovered profilometrically by comparison of baseline and final profiles. The adhesive layer thickness, retention percentage of the protective layer, and microhardness of cured adhesive were measured. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test (5%). Results: There were significant differences for all parameters (p = 0.0001). Mean values ± SD and results of the Tukey's test were: Surface wear: GEN - 4.88 (±1.09)a, L - 5.04 ± 0.99)a, FB - 5.32 (±0.93)ab, GEN + L - 5.46 (±1.27)abc, SB + L - 5.78 (±1.12)abc, FB + L - 6.23 (±1.25)bc, SB - 6.35 (±1.11)c, and C - 6.46 (±0.61)c; layer thickness: GEN - 15.2 (±8.63)c, FB - 5.06 (±1.96)a, GEN + L - 13.96 (±7.07)bc, SB + L - 4.24 (±2.68)a, FB + L - 9.03 (±13.02)abc, and SB - 7.49 (±2.80)ab; retention: GEN - 68.89 (±20.62)c, FB - 54.53 (±24.80)abc, GEN + L - 59.90 (±19.79)abc, SB + L - 63.37 (±19.30)bc, FB + L - 42.23 (±17.68) a, and SB - 47.78 (±18.29)ab; microhardness: GEN - 9.27 (±1.75)c; FB - 6.99 (±0.89)b; GEN + L - 6.22 (±0.87)ab; SB + L - 15.48 (±2.51)d; FB + L - 10.67 (±1.58)c; SB - 5.00 (±1.60)a. Conclusion: The application of Futurabond U and G-aenial bond on enamel surface, as well as the Nd:YAG laser irradiation alone, was able to reduce the enamel wear. The use of laser after the adhesive systems did not improve their efficacy. Clinical significance: Erosive/abrasive wear is a prevalent condition in clinical practice affecting many patients. The association of adhesive systems and Nd:YAG laser is of considerable clinical interest because it assesses new treatments to reduce the erosive/abrasive wear that would help dentists in clinical treatment decisions to reduce enamel wear and achieve a successful treatment.