Abstract

A photosensitizer formulation and strategy was developed based on the photophysical, photochemical and photobiological characteristics of methylene blue (MB) for the disinfection of root canal using light activated therapy. Disinfection of matured E. faecalis biofilms on root canal dentine was tried with the newly developed ‘Advanced NonInvasive Light Activated Disinfection’ (ANILAD), conventional photodynamic therapy, and conventional root canal therapy alone or in combination with ANILAD. The results showed that , although complete disinfection of non-matured biofilm is possible by ANILAD alone, a combination of conventional root canal treatment (RCT) with ANILAD could achieve significantly higher bacterial killing (61og₁₀–71og₁₀ bacterial reduction) compared to any other tested treatment in matured biofilm (p<0.00l).

© 2007 SPIE