Immediate root canal disinfection with ultraviolet light: an ex vivo feasibility study

Zvi Metzger*, Hadar Better, Itzhak Abramovitz

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: The study was designed to test application of ultraviolet light to root canal walls, as a mean of complementary immediate disinfection after the use of sodium hypochlorite. Study design: Root canals were infected ex vivo with Enterococcus faecalis for 48 hours. Nonattached bacteria were washed away, and the remaining attached bacteria were subjected to disinfection, with 5% sodium hypochlorite alone or followed by exposure to ultraviolet light (254 nm, 300 mJ/cm2). Root canals were then tested for remaining viable bacteria. Canals were obturated and tested again after 14 days. Results: Sodium hypochlorite alone achieved negative cultures in only 47% of the cases, but 96% was achieved with sodium hypochlorite followed by ultraviolet light (P < .001). This status was also maintained after 14 days. Conclusions: Illumination of root canals with ultraviolet light may be an effective supplementary means to achieve immediate disinfection of infected root canals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)425-433
Number of pages9
JournalOral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology
Volume104
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2007

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