Hardness Enhancement of Human Teeth Filler (Amalgam) Using Low Level Laser

Abstract

In this study, human teeth filler (Amalgam) hardness was enhanced using Low Level Laser. The amalgam samples were prepared by amalgamator device and irradiated for 30 seconds by diode laser with wavelength of 671 nm and power of 100 mW. The hardness was measured at different time intervals (2 hr, 6 hr, 12 hr, 18 hr and 24hr) using a Rockwell hardness tester. Other sample form the same amalgam was prepared without irradiation. The irradiated samples showed a significant increase in their hardness compared to the non-irradiated samples. The irradiated sample need only 6 hours to reach the same degree of hardness of the non-irradiated sample which takes 24 hours. The results showed that the laser irradiated samples undergo re-crystallization and therefore become more hardness than the non-irradiated samples.