Bactericidal effect of a diode laser on Enterococcus faecalis in human primary teeth—an in vitro study

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the diode laser (810 nm) has been used for root canal disinfection, which plays an important role in endodontic therapy. This study was undertaken to evaluate the disinfecting ability of a diode laser in experimentally infected root canals of primary teeth. METHODS: Human retained mandibular primary anterior teeth without apical foramen resorption were selected and contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis for 21 days. The specimens were randomly divided into four groups: the negative group (no treatment), positive group (5.25% NaOCl), diode laser group (diode laser), and diode-NaOCl group (diode laser combined with NaOCl). The disinfecting abilities of the treatments were measured by the numbers of bacteria, scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser microscopy (live-dead staining). RESULTS: Eighty teeth were selected. After irradiation and irrigation, the elimination of bacteria and the smear layer in the laser groups and positive group were significantly superior, compared with the negative group (p < 0.01). In the diode-NaOCl group, bacterial reduction reached nearly 100% on the surfaces of root canals; live bacteria were rarely observed, even in deeper dentinal tubules. CONCLUSION: Use of a diode laser, especially in combination with NaOCl, was effective for disinfecting infected root canals of primary teeth.