Comparison of the Effects of CO2 Laser, Eggshell Nanoparticle Gel, and Their Combination on the Microhardness of Enamel White Spot Lesions

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chicken eggshell nanoparticle gel, CO2 laser and their combination on human enamel white spot lesions. Material and methods To produce white patches on tooth enamel, thirty maxillary first premolars were divided into three groups at random and then kept in a demineralizing solution. Eggshell nanoparticle gel was used in the first group, CO2 laser irradiation was used in the second, and CO2 laser and eggshell nanoparticle gel was used in the third. After that, teeth were submerged in synthetic saliva for 30 days. The enamel surface's Vickers hardness was measured. One sample from each group was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to display the morphological characteristics of the enamel surface. X-ray diffraction test (XRD) was made for one sample from each group to determine the crystallographic structure of the enamel. Tukey's test and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to assess the data. Results After demineralization, the microhardness of enamel white spot lesions decreased significantly, and all three groups exhibited a significant difference between the demineralization and treatment stages, with a p-value of 0.000 for each group. The microhardness of enamel white spot lesions increased in all three groups. Conclusion Using eggshell nanoparticle gel, CO2 laser and CO2 laser with eggshell nanoparticle gel is suggested to reharden the tooth enamel. All the studied groups showed a comparable non-significant difference among them.