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Immediate root canal disinfection with ultraviolet light: an ex vivo feasibility study
Zvi Metzger1, Hadar Better, Itzhak Abramovitz
1Department of Oral Biology, Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. metzger@post.tau.ac.il
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. Non-attached 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/cm(2)). 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.
