title: The Effect of Diode Laser on Planktonic Enterococcus faecalis in Infected Root Canals in an Ex Vivo Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the bactericidal effect of diode laser irradiation against intracanal Enterococcus faecalis.
  
  
  METHODS
  m total of 128 extracted single-rooted and single-canal teeth were treated with ProTaper instruments (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland). A total of 120 root canals were inoculated with E. faecalis for 21 days, and the samples were randomly divided into five groups: Group 1 (n = 24) samples were irrigated with only saline solution (positive controls); Group 2 (n = 24) was treated with only 5.25% sodium hypochlorite; Group 3 (n = 24) was irrigated with saline solutions activated by diode laser; Group 4 (n = 24) was treated with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite activated by diode laser; and Group 5 (n = 24) was irrigated with saline solution with methylene blue dye activated by the diode laser Fox (Sweden & Martina, Padova, Italy); additionally, eight teeth were not contaminated and their canals were irrigated with saline solution and used as a negative control. The Uro-Quick system was used to determine the microbial residual charge. The data were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test (p < 0.001).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant reduction in bacterial count was observed in Group 2 and Group 4 (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences among the other groups (p > 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence indicates that the diode laser was not more effective than sodium hypochlorite in reducing free bacteria.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Catholic University of Sacred Heart , Rome, Italy .
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cretella
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Catholic University of Sacred Heart , Rome, Italy .
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lajolo
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Catholic University of Sacred Heart , Rome, Italy .
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castagnola
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Catholic University of Sacred Heart , Rome, Italy .
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Somma
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Catholic University of Sacred Heart , Rome, Italy .
authors.forename: MariaTeresa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inchingolo
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Catholic University of Sacred Heart , Rome, Italy .
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marigo
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000528:radiation effects; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014081:Tooth Extraction
chemical_list: D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite
keywords: diode laser; endodontics; lasers in dentistry