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Purpose:The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the post space volume changes following removal of glass fiber posts in endodontically treated teeth by using erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser to the conventional ultrasonic method. Materials and Methods: Twelve single-root human extracted teeth were cut into 13 mm near cementoenamel junction (CEJ), and then underwent endodontic treatment. The post spaces were prepared to 8 mm in length. Glass fiber posts were inserted with self-curing resin cement. Specimens were randomly assigned to laser or ultrasonic methods for their post removal. Post space volumes were measured using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) before post cementation and after post removal. Dentin thickness was measured after post removal at coronal, middle, and apical third of the root canal space. Paired t-test and t-test were used to compare space volumes between before post cementation and after post removal, and between laser and ultrasonic groups, respectively. Results: Six specimens were tested for each group. The average volume change was 6.499 mm 3 in laser and 7.418 mm 3 in ultrasonic method. There was not a significant difference between laser and ultrasonic group in respect of post space volume changes (p = 0.71). Both methods showed significant volume increase following post removal (p < 0.05). Significantly less dentin was lost when laser was used for post removal in the coronal portion of the post space (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Er,Cr:YSGG laser can be used as effective option, comparable to the conventional ultrasonic method when removing posts in endodontically treated teeth. Laser has the potential to provide conservative post removal.

Summary Background/Objectives Primary stability is required for successful use of microscrew. This study investigated correlations among biomechanical, morphological, and clinical values in relationship to root contact and different placement locations. Materials/Methods Thirty-three microscrews were placed between the molars (n = 18) or in the body of the mandible (n = 15) in three pigs. Insertion torque, Periotest, resonance frequency analysis (RFA), and static and dynamic stiffness were measured. Cone beam computed tomography was performed before and after the insertion of microscrews. Interproximal microscrews were divided into root contacted microscrews (n = 9) and non-root contact microscrews (n = 9). Factorial analysis of variance was conducted, with significance set at P &lt; 0.05. Results A significant difference was observed between bodily and root contacted microscrews in Periotest, RFA, static and dynamic stiffness, Tanδ, and bone density (RFA, P = 0.045; all others, P &lt; 0.001). A significant difference was observed between bodily and non-root contact microscrews in Periotest, RFA, and bone density (RFA, P = 0.025; all others, P &lt; 0.001). A significant difference was observed in static (P = 0.01) and dynamic (P = 0.038) stiffness between microscrews with and without contact. Dynamic stiffness (P = 0.02) and Tanδ (P = 0.03) showed significant correlations with Periotest results only in bodily microscrews. Limitations Since a pig bone was used, some differences in the quality and quantity of the bone might be observed between humans. Conclusions/Implications Stiffness values distinguished between microscrews with and without contact. Periotest and RFA results indicated that bodily microscrews were more stable than interproximal microscrews. Periotest and RFA may be useful with large, microscrews and/or in thick cortical bone, but further investigation is required to determine the stability of interproximal microscrews.