title: Decontamination of deep dentin by means of erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet laser irradiation.
abstract: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the depth of effectiveness of erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser irradiation on microorganism reduction. From human roots, dentin slices of 100 microm to 1,000 microm thickness were prepared. These specimens were sterilized and then inoculated with 1 microl of Enterococcus faecalis suspension. The backs of the specimens were then irradiated with Er,Cr:YSGG radiation at a pulse energy of 3.13 mJ, delivered at an incidence angle of 5 degrees to the dentin slice surface. A control group was left without irradiation. The remaining bacteria were collected in 1 ml sterilized NaCl solution, serially diluted and seeded in Columbia-Agar plates. Despite the low pulse energy of 3.13 mJ, the Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation resulted in significant bacterial reduction up to a dentin thickness of 500 microm (P < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of the contaminated and irradiated surfaces showed the absence of a smear layer and opened dentinal tubules.
authors.affiliation: Department for Conservative Dentistry, Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry (ZPP), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. rfranzen@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franzen
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esteves-Oliveira
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meister
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wallerang
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vanweersch
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lampert
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gutknecht
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000528:radiation effects; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D003804:Dentin / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning