Removal of filling materials from oval-shaped canals using laser irradiation: a micro-computed tomographic study

Ali Keleş; Hakan Arslan; Aliye Kamalak; Merve Akçay; Manoel D Sousa-Neto; Marco Aurélio Versiani

doi:10.1016/j.joen.2014.09.026

Removal of filling materials from oval-shaped canals using laser irradiation: a micro-computed tomographic study

J Endod. 2015 Feb;41(2):219-24. doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2014.09.026. Epub 2014 Nov 6.

Authors

Ali Keleş¹, Hakan Arslan², Aliye Kamalak³, Merve Akçay⁴, Manoel D Sousa-Neto⁵, Marco Aurélio Versiani⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey. Electronic address: ali.keles@inonu.edu.tr.
² Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
³ Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey.
⁴ Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, Turkey.
⁵ Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.

PMID: 25447502
DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2014.09.026

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of lasers in removing filling remnants from oval-shaped canals after retreatment procedures with rotary instruments using micro-computed tomographic imaging.

Methods: The root canals of 42 mandibular canines were prepared and obturated using the warm vertical compaction technique. Retreatment was performed with rotary instruments, and the specimens were distributed in 3 groups (n = 14) according to the laser device used in a later stage of retreatment procedure: Er:YAG, Er:YAG laser-based photon-induced photoacoustic streaming, and Nd:YAG. The specimens were scanned in a micro-computed tomographic device after root canal filling and each stage of retreatment at a resolution of 13.68 μm. The percentage differences of the remaining filling material before and after laser application within and between groups were statistically compared using the paired sample t test and 1-way analysis of variance test, respectively. Significance level was set at 5%.

Results: Overall, filling residues were located mainly in the apical third and into canal irregularities after the retreatment procedures. After using rotary instruments, the mean percentage volume of the filling remnants ranged from 13%-16%, with no statistical significant difference between groups (P > .05). Within groups, additional laser application had a significant reduction in the amount of the remaining filling materials (P < .05). A comparison between groups showed that Er:YAG laser application after the use of rotary instruments had a significantly higher removal of filling remnants (~13%) than Er:YAG laser-based photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (~4%) and Nd:YAG (~3%) (P < .05).

Conclusions: None of the retreatment procedures completely removed the filling materials. The additional use of lasers improved the removal of filling material after the retreatment procedure with rotary instruments.

Keywords: Er:YAG laser; Nd:YAG laser; gutta-percha removal; micro–computed tomography; photon-induced photoacoustic streaming; retreatment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Dental Alloys / chemistry
Dental Alloys / radiation effects
Dental Alloys / therapeutic use
Dental Pulp Cavity / diagnostic imaging
Dental Pulp Cavity / physiopathology
Dental Pulp Cavity / radiation effects*
Dentin / physiopathology
Dentin / radiation effects
Humans
Lasers, Solid-State*
Nickel / chemistry
Nickel / therapeutic use
Retreatment
Root Canal Filling Materials / chemistry
Root Canal Filling Materials / radiation effects
Root Canal Filling Materials / therapeutic use*
Root Canal Preparation / methods*
Titanium / chemistry
Titanium / therapeutic use
X-Ray Microtomography

Substances

Dental Alloys
Root Canal Filling Materials
Nickel
Titanium