title: Efficiency of NaOCl and laser-assisted photosensitization on the reduction of Enterococcus faecalis in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the action of a red laser associated with a photosensitizer on the reduction of Enterococcus faecalis in dental root canal in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty prepared teeth with single canals were contaminated. The chemical group was irrigated with 0.5% NaOCl and left flooded for 30 minutes. In the laser group, a paste-based photosensitizer was maintained in the root canals for 5 minutes, and then irradiated with a laser at 685 nm using an optical fiber for an E of 1.8 J during 3 minutes. After treatment, the canal content was collected, serially diluted, and cultured to determine the number of colony-forming units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Photosensitizer alone or laser alone did not have any bactericidal effect. Chemical solution reduced viable bacteria in 93.25%. Laser photosensitization resulted in a reduction of 99.2%, a significantly higher bacterial reduction than NaOCl.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser photosensitization was effective for reducing E. faecalis in root canals and could be an adjunct to endodontic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Center for Lasers and Applications, IPEN-CNEN/SP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aguinaldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva Garcez
authors.forename: Silvia Cristina
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: José Luís
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lage-Marques
authors.forename: Antonio Olavo Cardoso
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.forename: Martha Simões
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D052176:Azulenes; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003508:Cycloheptanes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D052176:Azulenes; D003508:Cycloheptanes; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; C005525:azulene; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite