title: Effect of Laser-Activated Irrigations on Smear Layer Removal from the Root Canal Wall.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of laser-activated irrigations (LAI) by using the Erbium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) laser and the Erbium Chromium: Yttrium Scandium Gallium Garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser on removing smear layer (SL) from the root canal wall.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  LAI has been proposed as an adjuvant to conventional protocols of endodontic treatment to enhance the disinfection, which is a promising protocol for SL removal.
  
  
  METHODS
  SL was generated by preparing the root canals of extracted human teeth to a #35/.04 M3 instrument. The SL then received treatments of one of the following: (A) NaOCl, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 60 sec; (B) EDTA, 17% ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) for 60 sec; (C) NaOCl+EDTA, NaOCl, and EDTA for 30 sec each; (D) LAI+NaOCl, LAI with NaOCl for 60 sec; (E) LAI+EDTA, LAI with EDTA for 60 sec; and (F) LAI+NaOCl+EDTA, LAI with NaOCl, and EDTA for 30 sec each. Efficacies of SL removal were evaluated by using a five-grade scoring system under scanning electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The laser activations significantly enhanced the effect of the NaOCl, EDTA, and NaOCl+EDTA irrigations in removing SL. The efficacies of SL removal were presented in a descending order of LAI+NaOCl+EDTA, LAI+EDTA>LAI+NaOCl, NaOCl+EDTA>EDTA>NaOCl.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among the treatments, the LAI+NaOCl+EDTA was the most effective protocol in removing SL from the entire root canal wall, which may be effective for root canal treatment.
authors.affiliation: 1 State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1 State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Xiaogang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Stomatology, Lishilu Outpatient Department, Chinese PLA Second Artillery Corps , Beijing, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Baogang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 1 State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: 1 State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: 1 State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University , Xi'an, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Wenxi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D004492:Edetic Acid; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000379:methods*; D016369:Smear Layer / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
chemical_list: D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D004492:Edetic Acid; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite
keywords: EDTA; Er,Cr:YSGG laser; Er:YAG laser; laser-activated irrigation; smear layer; sodium hypochlorite