Bactericidal Effect of a 980-nm Diode Laser in the Root Canal Wall Dentin of Bovine Teeth

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the antibacterial depth effect of continuous wave laser irradiation with a wavelength of 980 nm in the root canal wall dentin of bovine teeth. BACKGROUND DATA: The long-term success of an endodontic therapy often fails due to remaining bacteria in the root canal or dentin tubules, which cannot be sufficiently eliminated through the classical root canal preparation technique nor through rinsing solutions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 102 slices of bovine root dentin of different thicknesses (100, 300 and 500 micro m) were prepared. The samples were inoculated from one side with 5 micro L of an enterococcus faecalis suspension of defined concentration. Four slices per slice thickness served as a control group; the rest of the 30 slices per thickness were subjected to laser irradiation - 10 each of these slices were irradiated with distal outputs of 1.75, 2.3, and 2.8 Watts (W). After drying them for 30 sec, the back of the inoculated dentin slice was irradiated for 32 seconds with a 200- micro m fiber optical waveguide under constant movement of the fibers. The remaining bacteria were then detached in NaCl under vibration. The eluate produced by this was - taking account of the degree of dilution - plated out on sheep blood agar plates. After 24 h of incubation, the grown bacterial colonies were able to be counted out and evaluated. By doing so, they were compared with the non-irradiated, but otherwise identically treated control group. RESULTS: With a slice thickness of 100 micro m, the 980-nm diode laser achieved a maximum bacterial reduction of 95% at 1.75 W, 96% at 2.3 W, and 97% at 2.8 W. With a slice thickness of 300 micro m, a maximum of 77% of the bacteria was destroyed at 1.75 W, 87% at 2.3 W, and 89% at 2.8 W. The maximum bacterial reduction with a slice thickness of 500 micro m was 57% at 1.75 W, 66% at 2.3 W, and 86% at 2.8 W. CONCLUSION: The results of this research show that the 980-nm diode laser can eliminate bacteria that have immigrated deep into the dentin, thus being able to increase the success rate in endodontic therapy.