Surface roughness alterations of zirconia implants after Er:YAG laser irradiation: a preliminary study

摘要： Objective This study aimed to investigate the surface roughness parameters (Rp in μm) of zirconia implants (TAVDental) after erbium YAG (LiteTouchTM) laser irradiation. Material and methods Implants were randomized into two groups according to the laser irradiation parameters (1.5 W/10 Hz and 1.5 W/30 Hz). The surface topography of each implant was analyzed before and after laser irradiation using laser-scanning microscopy. The roughness values from three different areas (cervical, middle, and apical) of each implant were registered. Result Irrespective of the different laser settings and implant surface areas, both groups showed a significant reduced mean and peak surface roughness values after laser irradiation. However, no signs of thermal defects were observed. Conclusion Based on the conditions of this preliminary study, it can be concluded that the use of the Er, YAG (1.5 W, 10 and 30 Hz) is a safe tool for zirconia implant surface decontamination.