Using erbium-laser energy in wet canals in conjunction with EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) irrigation during root canal surgery yields cleaner root canal walls and more open tubules, according to a new study in Lasers in Medical Science (December 1, 2010).
Researchers from the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health conducted an in vitro analysis of the debriding ability of an Er:YAG laser system equipped with a newly designed radial and stripped tip.
A total of 80 single-rooted extracted human teeth were endodontically prepared with rotary instrumentation and chemical irrigation using 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. At the end of mechanical instrumentation, four different final protocols were used. Group 1 was irrigated for two minutes with saline water as a control group. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were irradiated with the laser at 25 mJ and 15 Hz with a pulse duration of 50 ÎĽs and laser spray using the tip in the coronal opening of the wet root canal. Debridement of, and smear layer removal from, the apical third of root canals were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.
Standardized instrumentation, followed by a final Er:YAG laser irradiation in wet canals with EDTA irrigation resulted in more cleaning of the root canal walls and a higher quantity of open tubules in comparison with the traditional irrigation method, the researchers concluded.
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