The nature of surface roughness after ER:YAG laser assisted root bio-modification

One important contemplation in periodontal therapeutic modalities is the root surface which has become exposed to the oral environment as a result of periodontitis. Changes in pathologically exposed root surface are physical and chemical in nature and also become cytotoxic due to the release of bacterial toxins that get attached to the root cementum. In regenerative attempts the root interface functions as one of the wound margins and must provide an appropriate surface for cell attachment and fiber development if regeneration is to occur. Knowing that successful periodontal therapeutic outcomes include clot stability, cell migration towards the root surface, cell attachment, cell proliferation and differentiation, debridement and preparation of a root surface play an important rule for the above-mentioned events which constitutes the rationale behind root bio-modification. The most conventional method includes scaling and root planing which are primarily aimed at the gross removal of cement from the root surface. Beside this method, nowadays the laser assisted root debridement become very popular since the laser beam is capable of achieving a delicate removal of tissue. Whatever method for debridement of root surface in order to detoxify, decontaminate and demineralize is used, significant change in topography and roughness happens which has impact on many properties of the environment that they support. The aim of this presentation will be to outline some challenging aspects of a root surface roughness, after Er:YAG assisted debridement, since it contain irregularities of various orders ranging from shape deviations to irregularities of the order of interatomic distances