Laserbehandeling in wortelkanalen. Effectief door explosieve dampbellen.

Since the late eighties pulsed infrared lasers like the Er:YAG and the Er,Cr:YSGG lasers are available for dentists. These lasers appear to have interesting applications in endodontics. It was demonstrated in vitro, with dyes, that a root canal can effectively be irrigated with them. Initially these lasers were recommended for preparation of enamel, dentin and bone and for surgery. The way that it worked in a root canal in combination with a liquid was, however, not clear. With a special high speed imaging technique the working mechanism of a pulsed infrared laser was studied, using a model of a root canal in a basin filled with either water or with a 5% NaOCl solution. The working mechanism can be attributed to the high stream of liquid, the turbulence and the cavity-effects, created by explosive vapour bubbles. These phenomena appear to make a major contribution to the cleansing and disinfecting of the root canal.