Background: The outcome of root canal treatment of teeth depends on efficient disinfection of the root canal system and prevention of re-infection. The present in vivo study was conducted to evaluate the role of laser with respect to its antimicrobial efficacy.  Materials & Methods: The present study was conducted on 30 patients of both genders. Patients were divided into 3 groups of 10 each. In group I, diode Laser was used for disinfection. In group II, the root canal was irrigated with 5% sodium hypochlorite solution followed by 810nm Diode Laser. In group III, the root canal was irrigated with 2% Chlorhexidine solution followed by 810nm Diode Laser. Root canal treatment was done following standardized procedures. The root canals were irradiated with a 810 nm diode laser by Denlase, The post-treatment microbiologic samples were collected immediately after the procedure. Results: In group I, diode Laser was used for disinfection. In group II, the root canal was irrigated with 5% sodium hypochlorite solution followed by 810nm Diode Laser. In group III, the root canal was irrigated with 2% Chlorhexidine solution followed by 810nm Diode Laser. Pre-treatment microbial count in group I was 25.18 CFU/mlx103 which reduced to 7.2 CFU/mlx103 in group I. In group II, it was 22.7 CFU/mlx103 which reduced to 4.5 CFU/mlx103 and in group III, it was 22.6 CFU/mlx103 which reduced to 2.7 CFU/mlx103. There was 74.5% reduction in microbial count in group I, 81.3% in group II and 85.8% in group III. Conclusion: Diode lasers are useful in disinfecting root canals. The root canal was irrigated with 2% Chlorhexidine solution followed by Diode Laser found to be effective.
Key words: Chlorhexidine, Diode lasers, Root canal.

Received: 4 February, 2019                                     Revised: 24 February, 2019                           Accepted: 27 February, 2019
Corresponding author: Dr. JPS Malhotra, Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, Mithila Minority Dental College and Hospital, Bihar, India

This article may be cited as: Sood N, JPS Malhotra JPS. Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of diode lasers- An invitro study. Int J Res Health Allied Sci 2019; 5(1):111-113.