Transient Spark for Bacterial Cleaning of Dental Microcavities

Plasma Medicine

10.1615/PlasmaMed.2018027473

Ledernez L, Bruch R, Altenburger M, Bergmann M, Urban G

Abstract

We present a method to disinfect microcavities such as tooth root canals. With the aim of being introduced inside of the root canal, parameters are chosen to produce reactive oxygen species that inactivate bacteria and cause little to no temperature increase within the canal. We demonstrate the device’s effects on bacteria with the use of Escherichia coli spread on agar in a Petri dish.