The bactericidal effect of a Genius Nd:YAG laser.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the 'in vitro' bactericidal effect of the Nd:YAG laser (Genius, MØlsgaard Dental, Copenhagen, Denmark) on six periodontal pathogens.


METHODS
Suspensions of six different periodontal pathogens (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Parvimonas micra) were prepared in small Eppendorff tubes, and exposed to a Nd:YAG laser for five different periods of time. Laser settings used: Power 6 Watt (on a scale of 1-12 W), Frequency 50 Hz, Pulse duration 250 mus. After exposure to the laser, aliquots of the suspensions were spread on blood agar plates for bacterial counting.


RESULTS
After 5 s of laser exposure, there was a decrease in total colony forming units for all six selected microorganisms. After 15, 30 and 45 s, no viable bacterial cells could be retrieved.


CONCLUSIONS
In this 'in vitro' model, 15 s of Nd:YAG laser use was found to be effective for total killing of the six tested periodontal pathogens.
Kranendonk
Aa
A
Department of Periodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
van der Reijden
Wa
W
van Winkelhoff
Aj
A
van der Weijden
Ga
G
D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000528:radiation effects; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000528:radiation effects; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D004203:Disinfection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008422:Materials Testing; D010462:Peptostreptococcus / Q000528:radiation effects; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000528:radiation effects; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000528:radiation effects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013997:Time Factors