Efficacy of Laser Photoacoustic Streaming in Paediatric Root Canal Disinfection - An Ex-Vivo Study

Abstract

Background: Various techniques have been employed to enhance the root canal disinfection rate using sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as an irrigant. Photon initiated photo-acoustic streaming using lasers is a newer method of endodontic disinfection. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the efficacy of photo-initiated photoacoustic streaming and conventional irrigation technique using 2.5% NaOCl for root canal disinfection in primary teeth. Setting and Design: Laboratory setting and ex-vivo design. Materials and Methods: Twenty extracted primary teeth were selected in which Enterococcus faecalis incubation was done in the root canals and bacterial counts were obtained before the intervention. The teeth were randomly allocated into two groups. Group I samples were irrigated with conventional syringe method using 2.5% NaOCl and Group II samples were irrigated using photon-initiated photo-acoustic streaming method with erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser (wavelength - 2940 nm). Postintervention samples were obtained, and bacterial colony count was done. Wilcoxon Signed- Ranks Test and Mann–Whitney test were applied to test the intragroup and intergroup differences in the bacterial counts. Results: Postintervention results showed no bacterial growth in the canals irrigated using Laser ( P = 0.004) whereas, fewer bacterial colonies were observed in NaOCl group ( P = 0.005). There was statistically significantly higher reduction in E. faecalis counts in Laser Activated irrigation (LAI) group compared to NaOCl group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Total elimination of E. faecalis counts was obtained by the use of laser activated NaOCl irrigation in the infected root canals, hence, it can be considered as an effective method for pediatric endodontic disinfection.

Disinfection Efficacy of Laser Activation on Different Forms and Concentrations of Sodium Hypochlorite Root Canal Irrigant against Enterococcus faecalis in Primary Teeth

“…The extracted primary teeth specimens were collected from the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive dentistry after obtaining consent from the donors, and then stored in normal saline. The inclusion criteria of the study samples were set based on the study conducted by Yavagal et al [9].…”

“…Incubatory growth was confirmed in the canals of specimens by taking the inoculums of the canals and checking E. faecalis colony count on culture plates. The methodology followed for bacterial inoculation of canals was based on the study conducted by Yavagal et al [9].…”

The role of laser irradiation in dental therapy during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

“…In the second group (n=10), the canals were filled with 2.5% NaOCl and then irradiated by Er:YAG (2940 nm) for 30 s. The results showed that the laser irradiation annihilated Enterococcus faecalis completely. 6 The second study used 120 extracted teeth contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis. The samples were divided into four groups (n=30), where the root canals of the groups were disinfected as follows: Group 1 (3% NaOCl), Group 2 (ozonated water), Group 3 (distillated water and diode 980 nm), and Group 4 (ozonated water and diode 980 nm).…”

Elimination of Enterococcus faecalis in the root canal during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

“…The result demonstrated that laser-activated NaOCl is capable of completely annihilating E. faecalis from the root canals. 6 In addition, by selecting the correct parameters and reducing the aerosol generation or smoke during laser irradiation, using lasers can significantly increase the success rate of dental therapy during the pandemic. 7 …”