Removal of root canal filling materials using Er:YAG laser irradiation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the ability of Er:YAG laser to remove root canal filling materials. The root canals of 21 extracted human anterior teeth were enlarged, and then obturated with gutta-percha points and sealer by lateral condensation. Filling materials were removed from root canals using Er:YAG laser irradiation at three energy output levels (30, 40, and 50 mJ/ pulse), and the corresponding time required for material removal at each energy output level was recorded. The amount of remaining filling material and the degree of dentin ablation in the canal wall were assessed using microfocus X-ray CT before and after removal. At 30 mJ, the time required for root canal filling material removal was significantly longer than at energy outputs of 40 and 50 mJ (p<0.01). On filling material remnants and the degree of dentin ablation, these parameters were not significantly different among the three energy outputs. In conclusion, these results suggested that Er:YAG laser irradiation is capable of removing root canal filling materials.

Dissolving efficacy of eucalyptus and orange oil, xylol and chloroform solvents on different root canal sealers

“…2006) and laser irradiation (Anjo et al. 2004, Tachinami & Katsuumi 2010), either alone or in combination with solvents.…”

Optodynamic energy-conversion efficiency during an Er:YAG-laser-pulse delivery into a liquid through different fiber-tip geometries

“…6 Thus, its radiation delivered through a smalldiameter fiber tip (FT) can be used for a wide range of laser-assisted medical applications, such as lithotripsy, 7 ophthalmology, 8,9 and dentistry. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Due to the strong absorption of erbium radiation in water, a vapor bubble is formed during the erbium-pulse delivery through an optical fiber that is not in contact with any tissue. 18,19 The cavitation-bubble dynamics then affects the tissue-ablation efficiency in two ways.…”

Efficacy of rotary Ni-Ti retreatment systems in root canals filled with a new warm vertical compaction technique

“…In the literature, there are comparative studies relating to the amount of filling residue in the root canal after retreatment 11,[16][17][18] . It was reported that the removal techniques were not different each other in terms of their removability, and all instruments left remnants of filling material and debris on the root canal walls [24][25][26] .…”

“…To properly remove the gutta-percha obturating material, many techniques and materials have been used in root canal-treated teeth. These include K-files or H-files, heat-carrying instruments, chemical solvents, ultrasonic instruments, engine driven rotary files such as Gates Glidden drill, GPX gutta-percha remover, NiTi rotary instruments, retreatment files (R-Endo, ProTaper and Mtwo retreatment files) heat carrier tips, ultrasonic files and lasers 2,[9][10][11] . The ProTaper retreatment file system (DentsplyMaillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) includes three retreatment instruments which are various tapers and diameters at the tip (D1, D2, D3).…”