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Comparison of three lasers for dental instrument sterilization
Author(s) -
Powell G. Lynn,
Whisenant Brian K.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1900110114
Subject(s) - sterilization (economics) , laser , dentistry , dental instruments , dental equipment , argon , materials science , optics , medicine , chemistry , physics , foreign exchange market , foreign exchange , monetary economics , economics , organic chemistry
The sterilization of dental instruments is an area of great interest and recent concern in the field of dentistry. The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of three lasers (argon, CO 2 , and NdYAG) to sterilize dental instruments. Endodontic reamers were contaminated with microorganisms, lased at various levels of energy, placed in Trypticase soy broth, incubated, and read for growth or no growth to determine sterility. Results indicated that the argon laser is capable of sterilizing selected dental instruments at the lowest energy level (1 watt for 120 seconds) of the three lasers tested. The other two lasers were able to sterilize the instruments also, but at higher energy levels. Results indicated all three lasers capable of sterilizing selected dental instruments; however, the argon laser was able to do so consistently at the lowest energy level of 1 watt for 120 seconds.