Effect of YSGG laser on bacteria adhered to zirconia surfaces

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser on Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus sanguinis adhered on zirconia surface in vitro Method: Biofilms of F. nucleatum and S. sanguinis were grown on zirconia discs and irradiated with Er,Cr:YSGG laser (λ= 2780 nm) at 1W. The number of viable bacteria was calculated by counting the colony-forming units on blood agar plate and bacterial reduction was compared to samples treated with chlorhexidine gluconate and a control group. The zirconia surfaces were further analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.

Result: The laser and chlorhexidine groups showed significant F. nucleatum reduction (95.03% and 95.43% respectively) compared to 20.57% in the control group (p< 0.05), while S. sanguinis colony-forming units showed no significant difference in reduction among the three groups (laser: 99.97%, chlorhexidine: 99.86%, control: 99.99%). SEM analysis showed no obvious damage of zirconia surface after laser treatment.

Conclusion: Er,Cr:YSGG laser is effective in bacterial reduction but no obvious advantage of Er,Cr:YSGG laser over conventional methods of disinfection could be found.

This abstract is based on research that was funded entirely or partially by an outside source: Health and Medical Research Fund: No. 12111502