Comparative evaluation of the antibacterial effect of co2 laser and naocl irrigating solution on root canal microorganisms

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to compare the antimicrobial effect of CC laser irradiation to that of NaOCl irrigating solution separately and combined on human root canals infected with endodontic bacterial species. Fifty extracted single roots were instrumented, sterilized and then inoculated with a known concentration of staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus faecalis. The specimens were then divided into four groups, group I untreated control group, group II treated with 2.6% NaOCl, group III treated with CO[2] laser at 5 watt, using 3 successive 10 sec. irradiation periods with 10 sec rest period inbetween and group IV subjected to a combined treatment of both NaOCl and CO[2] laser as a final step of disinfection. After treatment of each of the 4 groups, the canals were flushed with sterile water onto blood agar plates and macConkey agar plates and cultured for 48 hours. The colony forming unites were counted and the quantitative results were statistically analyzed. The results showed a significant reduction in bacterial count in the three tested groups, with the combined treatment using both CO[2] and NaOC[l] proving to be statistically superior to either of them used alone