Effect of Transient Spark Disinfection on Various Endodontics-Relevant Bacteria

Abstract

The in vitro efficacy of transient spark disinfection was examined on different types of bacteria that are relevant in endodontics, in particular Enterococcus faecalis. A device was constructed so that it could be inserted down to the apex of prepared root canals and could be applied in conventional, regenerative, and reparative endodontics. Starting with a bacterial load of 0.2 mL of undiluted 10 9-bacteria/mL spread on a Petri dish, 3-min treatment led to a 10 6-CFU/ cm 2 reduction in bacterial load over a surface area relevant to root canal treatment.

Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Application in Endodontics

“…Ledernez et al [18] evaluated the in vitro NTPP effect against microorganisms of medical interest, such as E. faecalis, S. mutants, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and E. coli. The working gas was a mixture of He and O 2 with a flux of 1 L/min.…”

“…For better efficacy, techniques such as applying ultrasound to reduce the surface tension or the pressure increment in the irrigation moment have been proposed. However, during this procedure, fluid extravasation can injure the healthy periapical [4,18]. This is related to the fact that sodium hypochlorite is highly toxic and can lead to an inflammatory process in the vital tissues, leading to tissue necrosis.…”

“…Furthermore, NaOCl can modify dentin properties and characteristics, such as microhardness and resistance. These changes can affect the stability of the dental element [17,18].…”

“…In this sense, an innovative non-thermal atmospheric plasma jet technique can represent an alternative to the conventional treatment [18]. Studies have reported the efficacy of a plasma jet against biofilms inside the root canal, which suggest that this technology can be helpful as an adjuvant in conventional disinfection therapies, seeking to decrease the discussed limitations.…”

“…Both direct and indirect methods have shown good perspectives in dentistry [16]. Since root canal reinfection is recurrent and the conventional methods and techniques have failures and risks [17,18], the use of NTPPs seems to represent an alternative to promote disinfection. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the main problems related to endodontic failures and the possible role of NTPPs in this context.…”