Since laser technology has found its way into dentistry, the term root canal sterilization has been used. While conventional disinfection of root canals as part of endodontic treatment (synonym: root canal treatment) leads to an efficient but not necessarily complete reduction of germs, the application of high-energy laser radiation promises almost 100% sterility.
Caries, which is bacterial in origin and can destroy the tooth hard tissues deep into the dentin (tooth bone), leads to pulp (tooth pulp) disease. As a result, the root canal system of an endodontically diseased tooth (a tooth with a diseased pulp) is colonized by a large number of germs. The aim of a root canal treatment is therefore to remove the diseased pulp tissue and to disinfect the walls of the entire root canal system, which have been penetrated by germs, as sustainably as possible in order to help the tooth to remain in the mouth for a long time after the successful root canal treatment.
Traditionally, in the course of root canal preparation, medical deposits such as calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and disinfecting rinsing solutions such as sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) are used to remove pulp tissue debris, germs and bacterial toxins. The depth of penetration of the canal walls by the rinsing solutions and obliterated canals (blocked canals that are not fully accessible to the reprocessing instruments) pose problems. Here, high-energy laser radiation promises deeper penetration and the highest bactericidal effect through thermal effects.
If the root-treated tooth is sterilized by laser radiation immediately before the final root canal filling is inserted, the root canal filling, which has the purpose of sealing the root canal system, can be inserted in an extremely sterile condition. Thus, despite the high effort required for it, the use of the laser represents a useful addition to classical root canal treatment.
