Effect of ER-Cr:YSGG laser in experimental infected root canals

Aim: the purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro the efficacy of the Er- Cr:YSGG laser in disinfecting conta- mined root canals versus 5% NaOCl, a standard irrigant solution. Methodology: forty canals of extrac- ted single-rooted vital teeth were me- chanically prepared, sterilized, ran- domly divided into four groups and inoculated with cells of Enterecoccus faecalis strain. Group A contains root canals sterilized and not infected with bacterial cells (sterility control). The other groups contain root canals incu- bated with bacterial cells for 120 h at 37°C and differently treated: group B was untreated (positive control), group C was irradiated with Er- Cr:YSGG laser, and group D was irriga- ted with 5% NaOCl. The number of Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/ ml of En- terecoccus faecalis was evaluated for ea- ch Group. Results: the results showed that Er- Cr:YSGG laser treatment is unable to disinfect root canals inoculated with bacterial cells. No bacterial cells were detected in the samples treated with 5% NaOCL. Conclusions: further clinical and in vitro investigations need to be perfor- med to assess the improvements of en- dodontic treatments using Er- Cr:YSGG laser versus bacterial infec- tions.