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A 19-year-old male was referred to the School of Dentistry, University of Queensland for management and treatment of uncontrolled root caries. A total of 12 teeth had non-cavitated root carious lesions requiring treatment. The lesions were treated with a daily application of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP; GC Tooth Mousse) and in-surgery photo-activated disinfection (PAD). Laser fluorescence (KaVo Diagnodent) was used to monitor the changes in the carious lesions. The combination of CPP-ACP and PAD proved to be very effective and holds great potential as a recommended treatment for stabilising root surface caries in the clinical practice.

Background: Laser-activated fluoride (LAF) therapy with 488 nm laser energy has been shown previously to increase the resistance of human enamel and dentine to acid dissolution in laboratory models of dental caries. The aims of this study were to examine whether LAF therapy, conducted using a range of wavelengths in the visible and near infrared regions, can protect human dental enamel from an artificial cariogenic challenge., Materials and Methods: Buccal and lingual surfaces of extracted sound, molar and premolar teeth were used to prepare matched pairs of enamel slabs (N=10 per group). After application of neutral sodium fluoride gel (12300 ppm F ion), slab surfaces were lased (energy density 15 J/cm2; spot size 5mm, wavelength 532, 633, 670, 830 or 1064nm), then exposed to an artificial cariogenic challenge for a period of seven days. The Vicker's hardness number (VHN) was recorded before and after laser treatment and again following the cariogenic challenge. Negative controls did not receive laser exposure., Results: All wavelengths of laser light examined provided an effective LAF effect, compared with the unlased negative control surfaces., Conclusion: Using this in vitro model, we conclude that the action spectrum of the LAF effect extends across the visible and near-infrared regions of the spectrum.