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Effect of photo‐activated disinfection on endodontic pathogens ex vivo
Author(s) -
Bergmans L.,
Moisiadis P.,
Huybrechts B.,
Van Meerbeek B.,
Quirynen M.,
Lambrechts P.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international endodontic journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.988
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1365-2591
pISSN - 0143-2885
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2591.2007.01344.x
Subject(s) - enterococcus faecalis , fusobacterium nucleatum , biofilm , streptococcus anginosus , root canal , microbiology and biotechnology , environmental scanning electron microscope , ex vivo , dentistry , colony forming unit , chemistry , streptococcus , biology , materials science , medicine , scanning electron microscope , staphylococcus aureus , in vitro , bacteria , porphyromonas gingivalis , composite material , periodontitis , genetics , biochemistry
Aim To test the hypothesis that photo‐activated disinfection (PAD) has a bactericidal effect on pathogens inoculated in root canals, with emphasis on biofilm formation/destruction. Methodology Root canals of extracted teeth ( n = 38) were prepared (size 30, 0.10 taper), autoclaved, divided into three groups and two negative controls inoculated ( Streptococcus anginosus , Enterococcus faecalis or Fusobacterium nucleatum ) and treated (PAD, laser, dye or positive control) according to a cross‐sectional design. Resultant colony‐forming unit counts were associated with observations of cell structural changes using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) on inoculated dentinal surfaces ( n = 22, two controls) before (1, 2 and 6 days of incubation) and after treatment with PAD. Results Treatment of root canals with PAD (15 J) caused a significant reduction of the bacterial load, resulting in a 93.8% kill of S. anginosus ( P < 0.0001), a 88.4% kill of E. faecalis ( P < 0.05) and a 98.5% kill of F. nucleatum ( P < 0.0001), but no sterilization. Laser alone had no significant effect on the load nor did the dye without laser. The ESEM experiment showed that individual cells or monolayers were easily eliminated with PAD. But when biofilms were present (2 and 6 days for E. faecalis , 6 days for S. anginosus ), bacterial eradication was substantially reduced in deep layers. Conclusions Photo‐activated disinfection is not an alternative but a possible supplement to the existing protocols for root canal disinfection as the interaction between light (diode laser) and associated dye (TBO) provides a broad‐spectrum effect. Some endodontic pathogens that grow as single‐species biofilms, however, are difficult to eradicate.