OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to investigate the thermal effects of Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation (1.5W/20Hz) on yttrium-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fifteen disks of Y-TZP (AS Technology TitaniumFIX, São José dos Campos, Brazil) with 5 mm diameter and 3 mm high standardized with CAD-CAM were used. The Y-TZP disks were randomized in three groups (n=5): Y-TZP-G1 = control (no laser treatment); Y-TZP-G2 = Y-TZP + Er,Cr:YSGG laser (air-water cooling proportion 80%/25%); Y-TZP-G3 = Y-TZP + Er,Cr:YSGG laser (air-water cooling proportion 80%/0%). A thermopar (SmartMether, Novus, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil) was attached to a digital thermometer (SmartMether, Novus, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil) fixed to the opposite irradiated surface. The temperature gradients (ΔT) were calculated (ΔT = Final Temperature - Initial Temperature) for each group. Values were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA at the 95% confidence level and compared by Tukey post-hoc test (α=0.05) for each material. One sample of each group was analyzed by confocal white light microscopy. RESULT: The ANOVA test showed significant differences for the factor "laser" (p<.001). The temperature gradients (ΔT value) showed the following results: Y-TZP-G1 = 0 ºC; Y-TZP-G2 = -1.4 ºC and Y-TZP-G3 = 21.4 ºC. The ΔT values (ºC) of the non-refrigerated group were higher than the refrigerated group. The roughness value (Ra) ranged from 4.50 to -33.65 µm. CONCLUSION: The water refrigeration for Er,Cr:YSGG irradiation is essential to avoid thermal increase in the Y-TZP.
Ceramics; temperature; confocal microscopy; dental implantation; lasers