title: Apicoectomies with the erbium laser: a complementary technique for retrograde endodontic treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of erbium lasers for retrograde endodontic treatment, in terms of clinical outcome and therapeutic success.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Apicoectomy with retrograde filling is a well-established surgical procedure to treat teeth affected by persistent periapical lesions. The apical root end is generally removed with burs, and the adjacent periapical tissue curetted, or alternatively treated with ultrasound or laser.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2000 and 2010, 65 apicoectomies were performed on necrotic teeth that presented apical lesions (29 men, 36 women). The lasers used in the study were the erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser, wavelength 2940 nm, and the erbium,chromium-doped:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser, wavelength 2780 nm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 65 teeth in the study, failure only occurred in 9 CASES, MANIFESTING AFTER DIFFERENT TIMES. THE REMAINING PATIENTS, 86.15%, experienced no complications, and their treatment followed a positive course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser-assisted surgery increases the range of therapeutic approaches in the sphere of retrograde endodontic treatment. The results of this study show that the erbium laser, used for apicoectomy, results in a high success rate with considerable benefit in terms of clinical outcome and therapeutic success.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Milan-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy. f.angiero@teos.it
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angiero
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benedicenti
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Signore
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crippa
mesh_terms: D001047:Apicoectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome