title: Effectiveness of KTP laser versus 980 nm diode laser to kill Enterococcus faecalis in biofilms developed in experimentally infected root canals.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial action of KTP (potassium-titanyl-phosphate) laser irradiations (compared with 980 nm diode laser), associated with conventional endodontic procedures, on Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. Fifty-six dental roots with single canals were prepared with Ni-Ti rotary instruments, autoclaved, inoculated with an E. faecalis suspension and incubated for 72 h. They were randomly allocated to control and treatment groups. Laser parameters were as follows: power 2.5 W, Ton 35 ms, Toff 50 ms (KTP laser); power 2.5 W, Ton 30 ms, Toff 30 ms (980 nm diode laser). To evaluate the residual bacterial load, BioTimer Assay was employed. The chemo-mechanical treatment together with laser irradiations (KTP and 980 nm diode lasers) achieved a considerable reduction of bacterial load (higher than 96% and 93%, respectively). Regarding both laser systems, comparisons with conventional endodontic procedures (mortality rate of about 67%) revealed statistically highly significant differences (P ≤ 0.01). This study confirms that laser systems can provide an additional aid in endodontic disinfection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Gaspare
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palaia
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nardo
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tenore
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Telesca
authors.forename: Roly
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kornblit
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frioni
authors.forename: Piera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berlutti
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load; D018441:Biofilms; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: BioTimer Assay; Enterococcus faecalis biofilm; endodontic infections; laser; root canal disinfection