The Effect of Diode Laser on Planktonic Enterococcus faecalis in Infected Root Canals in an Ex Vivo Model.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the bactericidal effect of diode laser irradiation against intracanal Enterococcus faecalis.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

m total of 128 extracted single-rooted and single-canal teeth were treated with ProTaper instruments (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland). A total of 120 root canals were inoculated with E. faecalis for 21 days, and the samples were randomly divided into five groups: Group 1 (n = 24) samples were irrigated with only saline solution (positive controls); Group 2 (n = 24) was treated with only 5.25% sodium hypochlorite; Group 3 (n = 24) was irrigated with saline solutions activated by diode laser; Group 4 (n = 24) was treated with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite activated by diode laser; and Group 5 (n = 24) was irrigated with saline solution with methylene blue dye activated by the diode laser Fox (Sweden & Martina, Padova, Italy); additionally, eight teeth were not contaminated and their canals were irrigated with saline solution and used as a negative control. The Uro-Quick system was used to determine the microbial residual charge. The data were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test (p < 0.001).

RESULTS

A statistically significant reduction in bacterial count was observed in Group 2 and Group 4 (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences among the other groups (p > 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence indicates that the diode laser was not more effective than sodium hypochlorite in reducing free bacteria.