Application of Lasers in Root Canal Disinfect...

Application of Lasers in Root Canal Disinfection: A Narrative Review

Author Name : Dr. Hussain Mookhtiyar, Shabnam Shaikh, Samrin Shaikh, Amaan Shaikh, Nihal Mujawar

ABSTRACT Endodontics is a dental specialty focused on the complex structure of dental roots and related conditions, encompassing diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental pulp and surrounding tissues. The use of lasers has emerged as an innovative approach in dentistry, with numerous recent studies exploring their potential applications in endodontics. Lasers have shown promise in various treatments, including root canal procedures, vital pulp therapy (such as pulp capping and pulpotomy), managing dentinal hypersensitivity, and alleviating pain associated with pulp and periradiculardiseases.Successful root canal treatment hinges on thorough disinfection of the root canal system and preventing reinfection. Traditional chemomechanical cleaning methods often fall short in achieving these objectives, with inadequate disinfection being a primary cause of endodontic failure. Due to the high energy and unique properties of laser light, laser treatment has been proposed as a means to effectively clean and disinfect root canals.This paper reviews the literature covering the effect of Er:YAG, Er,Cr:YSGG, Nd:YAG and diode laser on the root canal walls for improved disinfection. Current findings suggest that lasers possess bactericidal properties, yet they cannot fully replace sodium hypochlorite and should be viewed as a complementary option to existing chemical disinfection protocols. Certain lasers may aid in the removal of the smear layer and debris while altering the morphology of the root canal walls. However, there remains a lack of sufficient randomized clinical studies assessing the outcomes of endodontic treatments that incorporate laser use.