title: Elimination of intracanal tissue and debris through a novel laser-activated system assessed using high-resolution micro-computed tomography: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laser-activated irrigation to remove organic debris from canal isthmuses was investigated using x-ray microfocus computed tomographic imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 14 extracted human mandibular molars were used. The mesial canals were prepared using a standardized instrumentation protocol. Two groups (n = 7) underwent final irrigation using either standard needle irrigation (SNI) or photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS). After enlarging canals to 30/.06, canal volumes were reconstructed from micro-computed tomographic scans before and after irrigation to assess removal of organic tissue and inorganic debris by quantitative analysis of the superimposed volumes. Comparisons of the volumes were made using 2-way analysis of variance and Tukey method, with statistical differences considered significant at the alpha = 0.05 level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Debris removal and an increase in root canal system volume for the laser-activated PIPS group was more significant (P < .001) than for the SNI group (P = .04). Irrigation using PIPS increased the canal volume and eliminated debris from the canal system 2.6 times greater than SNI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eliminating debris from complex canal spaces found in mandibular molars was achieved at a significantly greater level using laser-activated PIPS irrigation compared with SNI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee. Electronic address: alloyd@uthsc.edu.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Uhles
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.affiliation: Bioscience Research Center, College of Dentistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcia-Godoy
mesh_terms: D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009339:Needles; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016369:Smear Layer / Q000628:therapy*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite
keywords: Er:YAG laser; photon-induced photoacoustic streaming; root canal disinfection