Abstract: Research has shown that CO$-2$/ laser energy can both fuse and etch enamel, the effect being dependent on the exposure parameters utilized. Such energy can also fuse dental porcelains, but it is not known whether porcelain can be etched by CO$-2$/ laser. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether CO$-2$/ laser energy can be utilized to etch porcelain laminates, an effect necessary for resin bonding. Porcelain laminate disks 10 mm in diameter were prepared. The disks were each numbered and divided into quadrants with a small carbide high speed bur. Six disks were utilized, each quadrant receiving a single laser exposure for a total of 24 exposures. Each exposure was at either 10 or 15 W for .01, .05, or .10 seconds, with a focal spot of either 0.8 or 0.35 mm. This range of exposures includes those exposures which cause enamel etching. Two exposures were made at each combination of exposure parameters. Each disk was prepared for scanning electron microscopy and viewed at 75X to examine the exposure sites. All 24 exposure sites were examined and no definite etching was observed. !6
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