- The aim of this study was to assess the effect of two different laser systems on the mineral content of root canal dentin. Thirty-six single canal-extracted mandibular premolars were used in this study. The teeth were randomly divided into two groups of 18 teeth each and prepared with a master apical file #50. Dentin chips were obtained by Gates-Glidden burs and saved in Eppendorf tubes to serve as a control. Then, root canals were treated with a erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet or neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser. Dentin chips were again obtained using Gates-Glidden. The levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) in each specimen were measured by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Data were statistically analyzed by a Mann-Whitney U test. The changes in Ca, P, Mg, Ca, and K levels and the Ca/P ratio after laser irradiations were minimal and statistically not significant (p > 0.05). It was determined that the laser systems used in this study did not affect the mineral content of root canal dentin. |