Effects of plasma jet, dielectric barrier discharge, photodynamic therapy and sodium hypochlorite on infected curved root canals.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of 2 different cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) sources, photodynamic therapy and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), on infected root canals. Therefore, 50 standardized curved human root canals were infected with Enterococcus faecalis and assigned to 5 groupsnegative control (NC), plasma jet (CAP I), dielectric barrier discharge (CAP II), photodynamic therapy (PDT) and NaOCl + passive ultrasonic irrigationfor 30 s. Colony forming units (CFUs) were determined. NaOCl was significantly more effective at reducing CFUs than all test groups (P < .0001 [Mann-Whitney U test]) in both parts of the root canal. CFUs in PDT were significantly lower than those in CAP II (P = .015), and those in CAP I were lower than those in CAP II (P = .05). Among all other groups and in the apical parts, no significant differences were found (P > .05).