Comparative study of root canals instrumented manually and mechanically, with and without Er:YAG laser.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the scanning electron microscopic (SEM) morphology of root canal walls instrumented manually and mechanically with and without the application of Er:YAG laser.


METHODS
Single-rooted, human, extracted teeth were cut at the cementoenamel junction. The teeth were divided into four groups: teeth that were simply instrumented manually, those that were instrumented manually and laser treated, a group that was mechanically instrumented, and a fourth in which the teeth were mechanically instrumented and laser treated. After instrumentation, the teeth were split longitudinally to facilitate their evaluation by SEM.


RESULTS
The results show that the use of the Er:YAG laser is effective in removing the smear layer from root canal walls.


CONCLUSIONS
The removal of the smear layer is essential to the success of endodontic treatment; the use of the Er:YAG laser combined with rotary and manual techniques improves the cleanliness of root canals.
Biedma
Benjamín Martín
BM
Division of Dental Pathology and Therapeutics, Department of Stomatology, Dental and Medicine School, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. bjmbptd@usc.es
Varela Patiño
Purificación
P
Park
Saem Ahn
SA
Barciela Castro
Natalia
N
Magán Muñoz
Fernando
F
González Bahillo
José Domingo
JD
Cantatore
Giuseppe
G
D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D004871:Erbium; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D011336:Probability; D011897:Random Allocation; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014070:Tooth; D015019:Yttrium
D015019:Yttrium; D004871:Erbium