Effect of Er,Cr:YSGG Laser Irradiation with Radial Firing Tips onCandida albicansin Experimentally Infected Root Canals

Abstract

Aim. To compare the disinfection effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser using radial firing tips with NaOCI in root canals infected with C. albicans and to evaluate the irradiation effect on the dentinal surfaces. Material and Methods. In total seventy-six mandibular premolar teeth were used. In order to standardize the incubation and sterilization procedure, eight teeth were used. Sixty-eight of the root canals were incubated with C. albicans suspension for 72 hours. The specimens were divided into 5 experimental groups. Two groups were constituted as Group 1 was irradiated with 1.5 W laser (n = 8) and group 2, which was irradiated with 2 W laser (n = 8). Two more groups were formed as Group 3 (2 W laser (n = 25) and Group 4 NaOCI (5%) (n = 25). Group 5 (n = 2) did not receive any treatment. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were used to compare the different laser output powers. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used in order to compare the Candida cfu/ml levels according to treatment protocols (P < 0.05). Results. Both 1.5 W and 2 W laser resulted in a major reduction of C. albicans without a significant difference. The comparison of the dentin surfaces irradiated with Er,Cr:YSGG laser at two power settings resulted in similar morphological changes. However, NaOCI was found to be more effective in reduction of C. albicans than 2 W laser application. Conclusion. According to the results of the present study, the Er,Cr:YSGG laser with radial firing tips presented less antifungal effects on C. albicans in root canals of infected teeth than NaOCl solution.

Rationale for using a double-wavelength (940 nm + 2780 nm) laser in endodontics: literature overview and proof-of-concept

“…In contrast with plain fibres, RFT have been shown to produce consistently relevant in vitro [102,103] and clinical [104,105] findings. They are known to spread its energy along to the direction of the dentinal tubules [74], to produce lower temperature increments [85], to increase cavitation effects towards the root canal walls without harming apical tissues [85,106], to be highly efficient in bacterial and biofilm reduction [107,108] and to allow irrigating solutions to travel apically by overcoming the airlock effect [109].…”