title: Killing of cariogenic bacteria by light from a gallium aluminium arsenide diode laser.
abstract: Suspensions of Streptococcus mutans, S. sobrinus, Lactobacillus casei and Actinomyces viscosus were exposed to light from a gallium aluminium arsenide laser in the presence of aluminium disulphonated phthalocyanine and the numbers of survivors determined. Exposure to the laser light in the absence of the dye, or the dye in the absence of the laser light, had no significant effect on the viability of the organisms. However, a light-dose-related decrease in the viable count of all four target organisms was found on exposure to the laser light in the presence of the dye. The kills attributable to lethal photosensitization amounted to approximately 10(6) CFU in the case of each organisms. As appreciable kills were achieved within clinically convenient exposure times (30-90 s), these results imply that lethal photosensitization may be a useful technique for eliminating bacteria from carious lesions prior to restoration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Dental Surgery, London, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Pearson
mesh_terms: D016924:Actinomyces viscosus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D001152:Arsenicals; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005708:Gallium; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007834:Lasers; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D016986:Streptococcus sobrinus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D007211:Indoles; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C043055:gallium arsenide; C064331:aluminum phthalocyanine disulfonate; D005708:Gallium