title: Evaluation of photodynamic therapy using a light-emitting diode lamp against Enterococcus faecalis in extracted human teeth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with high-power lasers as the light source has been proven to be effective in disinfecting root canals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of PDT using toluidine blue O (TBO) and a low-energy light-emitting diode (LED) lamp after the conventional disinfection protocol of 6% NaOCl.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-rooted extracted teeth were cleaned, shaped, and sealed at the apex before incubation with Enterococcus faecalis for 2 weeks. Roots were randomly assigned to five experimental groups and three control groups. Dentin shavings were collected from the root canals of all groups with a #50/.06 rotary file, colony-forming units were determined, and the bacterial survival rate was calculated for each treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bacterial survival rate of the NaOCl/TBO/light group (0.1%) was significantly lower (P < .005) than the NaOCl (0.66%) and TBO/light groups (2.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT using TBO and a LED lamp has the potential to be used as an adjunctive antimicrobial procedure in conventional endodontic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Baylor College of Dentistry, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, Dallas, Texas 75246, USA.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.forename: Jianing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Gerald N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Glickman
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spears
authors.forename: Emet D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Schneiderman
authors.forename: Allen L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Honeyman
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D003804:Dentin / Q000382:microbiology; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008422:Materials Testing; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014048:Tolonium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite