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Advanced Electrochemical Reamer (EC-Reamer) for Root Canal Treatment
Remya Ampadi Ramachandran1, Wei Li2, Shweta Khande1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA.
European Endodontic Journal
|February 7, 2023
Summary
An electrochemical reamer (EC-Reamer) effectively disinfects root canals, significantly reducing Enterococcus faecalis bacteria. This novel approach enhances root canal treatment success by improving disinfection of the canal system.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Dental Research
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Root canal treatment is crucial for preserving natural teeth, with 22 million procedures performed annually.
- Infection and decay necessitate root canal treatment to restore tooth function and prevent tooth loss.
- Current treatments aim to disinfect the root canal system and improve success rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an electrochemical reamer (EC-Reamer) for enhanced disinfection during root canal treatment.
- To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the EC-Reamer against Enterococcus faecalis.
- To optimize electrochemical parameters for effective canal disinfection.
Main Methods:
- Simulated experimental setup using COMSOL Multiphysics for current flow analysis.
- Benchtop electrochemical protocol involving open circuit potential and potentiostatic scans (-9.0 V).
- Tested platinum (Pt) and gold (Au) as reference electrodes and hot melt adhesive (HMA) as insulation material.
Main Results:
- The Pt-HMA pair demonstrated promising results due to Pt's inertness and HMA's practical features.
- Potentiostatic durations of 1-3 seconds achieved >99.99% reduction in E. faecalis.
- Durations of 5 seconds or longer resulted in a complete bacterial kill, with statistically significant differences observed.
Conclusions:
- The study provides preliminary data for an EC-Reamer prototype to boost antimicrobial effects in root canal therapy.
- The developed EC-Reamer shows potential for significantly improving root canal treatment outcomes.
- Further development of this electrochemical approach could revolutionize endodontic disinfection.
