ESTEVES OLIVEIRA, M.APEL, C.GUTKNECHT, N.VELLOSO JUNIOR, W.F.COTRIM, M.E.B.EDUARDO, C.P.ZEZELL, D.M.2014-07-152014-07-302014-07-152014-07-302008ESTEVES OLIVEIRA, M.; APEL, C.; GUTKNECHT, N.; VELLOSO JUNIOR, W.F.; COTRIM, M.E.B.; EDUARDO, C.P.; ZEZELL, D.M. Low-fluence CO2 laser irradiation decreases enamel solubility. <b>Laser Physics</b>, v. 18, n. 4, p. 478-485, 2008. DOI: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1134/S1054660X08040233">10.1134/S1054660X08040233</a>. Disponível em: http://repositorio.ipen.br/handle/123456789/5086.1054-660Xhttp://repositorio.ipen.br/handle/123456789/5086This study investigated whether subablative-pulsed CO2 laser (10.6 μm) irradiation, using fluences lower than 1 J/cm2, was capable of reducing enamel acid solubility. Fifty-one samples of bovine dental enamel were divided into three groups: control group, which was not irradiated (CG); group laser A (LA) irradiated with 0.3 J/cm2; and group laser B (LB) irradiated with 0.7 J/cm2. After irradiation, the samples were subjected to demineralization in an acetate buffer solution and were then analyzed by SEM. A finite-element model was used to calculate the temperature increase. The calcium and phosphorous content in the demineralization solution were measured with an ICP-OES. ANOVA and the t-test pairwise comparison (p < 0.016) revealed that LB showed significantly lower mean Ca and P content values in the demineralization solution than other groups. A reduction in the enamel solubility can be obtained with pulsed CO2 laser irradiation (0.7 J/cm2, 135 mJ/pulse, 74 Hz, 100 μs) without any surface photomodification and a less than 2°C temperature increase at a 3-mm depth from the surface.478-485closedAccesscarbon dioxidelasersteethbovinecariesenamelssolubilityArtigo de periódico41810.1134/S1054660X08040233https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7404-9606https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6462-4758