Effect of ultrasonic versus laser-activated irrigation on smear layer removal - An in vitro analysis.

Authors

Ojaswini Pawar, Ronak N Patel, Priyatam Maruti Karade, Chirantan Chowdhury, Rangoli Srivastava, Mohammed Mustafa

Published in

Bioinformation. Volume 22. Issue 6. Pages 3362-3368. Epub Jun 30, 2026.

Abstract

Elimination of the smear layer from root canal walls remains a clinical challenge, as residual debris can compromise sealer adaptation and endodontic treatment outcomes. Therefore, it is of interest to compare the efficacy of passive ultrasonic irrigation and erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser-activated irrigation in removing smear layer at different canal levels. Sixty extracted single-rooted human premolars were allocated to four groups: conventional syringe irrigation, passive ultrasonic irrigation and Er:YAG laser-activated irrigation at 1.0 W and 1.5 W using sodium hypochlorite and EDTA. Scanning electron microscopy evaluation demonstrated that both activation techniques significantly improved smear layer removal compared with conventional irrigation at all canal levels (p<0.001). Thus, Er:YAG laser-activated irrigation at 1.5 W showed superior smear layer removal in the apical third, suggesting its potential as an effective adjunct in contemporary endodontic practice.

PMID:
42701628
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 06 Sep 2026.

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