Case Report: Photo-activated oral disinfection in regenerative endodontics

Introduction

The term regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) has been widely endorsed. This term describes all procedures that aim to achieve organized repair of the dental pulp¹. The clinical considerations for REPs include: disinfecting the root canal system; providing a scaffold with periapical tissue laceration to get a blood clot and introduce stem cell activity within the root canal; and sealing the coronal access properly to prevent reinfection^2,3.

Antibiotics appear to be suitable intra-canal medication. Triple antibiotic paste (TAP) consisting of metronidazole, ciprofloxacin and minocycline is considered to be a successful regimen in managing the root canal pathogen of necrotic immature permanent teeth⁴. Recently, new methods of disinfection have been described to control the limitations of conventional disinfecting methods by neither diminishing the bacterial number to an adequate level or eliminating the toxicity to periapical stem/progenitors⁵. Other concerns regarding the use of TAP include tooth discoloration and bacterial resistance⁶.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT)/photo-activated oral disinfection (PAD) involves a photosensitizer (photoactive dye) that is activated by exposure to light of a specific wavelength in the presence of oxygen. The energy transferred from the activated photosensitizer to available oxygen leads to toxic oxygen species formation, such as singlet oxygen and free radicals. These very reactive chemical species can destroy proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and other cellular components⁷.

Several in vitro studies have shown that PDT is effective in root canal disinfection^8–10. A clinical study by Johns et al.¹¹ reported successful outcomes for using PAD in root canal treatment of completely formed root. The case report by Johns et al.¹² was the first to document pulp revascularization using PDT and platelet-rich fibrin. Root lengthening, continued thickening of the canal walls and apical closure were demonstrated at 10-month follow-up¹².

This article reports the successful use of PAD in regenerative endodontics as a novel and effective disinfection method, which might present a solution to the problems associated with triple antibiotic paste¹².

Case report

An 8.5-year-old Egyptian girl came to the outpatient clinic of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University with the chief complaint of fractured upper right central incisor due to trauma one and half months previously (Figure 1A and B). The patient’s medical history was non-contributory. On clinical examination (which included a visual examination for any abnormalities, palpation of labial vestibule, percussion test and sensibility test), the tooth was sensitive to percussion, which was determined by tapping the tooth with the back of the mirror. The surrounding soft tissue had no tenderness to finger palpation and the tooth had no response to the hot test in comparison to the contralateral tooth. Preoperative radiographic examination revealed a wide root canal with an open apex (Figure 2A) using conventional periapical radiograph.

Figure 1.

A) front view of preoperative intra-oral photo of traumatized upper right central incisor; B) occlusal preoperative photo; C) three month follow up; and D) 12-month follow-up.

Figure 2.

A) preoperative periapical radiograph; B) immediate postoperative radiograph after mineral trioxide aggregate coronal plug application; C) follow up radiograph at six months; and D) follow-up radiograph at 12 months.

The case was managed by single visit regenerative endodontic procedure using PAD after obtaining written informed consent from the parents (including usage of data and publication) and assent from the child. The procedure was performed according to the American Association of Endodontics (AAE) guidelines¹³, except PAD instead of TAP was used. A 1.8ml carpule of mepivacaine 3% (Mepivacaine hydrochloride, Alexandria Co. for Pharmaceuticals, Egypt) was administered by infiltration. A rubber dam was applied, followed by access cavity preparation and tooth length detection. Gentle, copious irrigation was done using 20ml NaOCl (1.5% NaOCl 20ml/canal for five minutes). NaOCl of lower concentration was advised and then flushed with saline (20ml/canal for minutes), using irrigating needle located about 1mm from root end then the canal was dried using paper points.

Aseptim solution (SciCan Ltd, Denfotex Light Systems Ltd, Inverkeithing, Scotland) was applied to the canal, followed by a low power laser diode red light system (Aseptim system, SciCan Ltd, Denfotex Light Systems Ltd, Inverkeithing, Scotland) with a specific wavelength (635nm) to activate the aseptim solution for 150 seconds. Canals was washed with saline to remove the aseptim solution. Gentle, copious, irrigation with 20ml of 17% EDTA was applied. Dryness with paper points to remove excess EDTA was done. Bleeding was initiated into the canal system by rotating a K-file at 2mm beyond the apical foramen. A resorbable matrix (Collacote dressing Zimmer Biomet, USA) was placed over the blood clot. Then, white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) (Angelus, Brazil) was placed over the matrix with placement of a moistened pellet of cotton and glass ionomer (Figure 2B). After two days, the tooth was double sealed using glass ionomer cement (Kromoglass 2, LASCOD- Italy) and composite restoration 3M composite (3M, America Inc).

Clinical examination of the patient revealed no adverse signs and symptoms at three, six-, nine- and 12-month follow-up periods (Figure 1C and 1D). Radiographic examination revealed an increase in root length and root thickness at six months (Figure 2C) and complete root closure at 12 months (Figure 2D) using digital radiography (Digora™ Optime UV) and digital software (Soredex, Finland). (Table 1)

Discussion

This case report documents the successful application of a novel and innovative disinfection technique in regenerative endodontics for management of a necrotic immature permanent tooth in a single visit, although a longer follow up period is recommended.

Root canal system disinfection is an integral step in the success of REPs. Chemical disinfection of the root canal is dependent on bacteriostatic/bactericidal properties of the agents as well as avoid harming the patient’s stem cells³. Copious and gentle irrigation was done using 20ml NaOCl. The use of NaOCl at lower concentrations was advised (1.5% NaOCl) with the irrigating needle adjusted to be 1mm from the root end to reduce the cytotoxicity to stem cells and to minimize the possibility of irrigant extrusion into the periapical tissues¹³. Furthermore, 1.5% NaOCl was effective in bacterial reduction of root canals as reported by Trevino et al.¹⁴.

The PAD technique was effective in removing high bacterial concentrations from infected root canals¹⁵. Aseptim solution was applied to the canal and agitated in the canal for 60 seconds using an endodontic file to ensure maximum penetration of the dye, since it is essential that the aseptim solution comes in close contact with the bacteria, otherwise the photosensitivity process does not occur¹⁶.

Blood clot formation inside the canal is considered a scaffold and a source of growth factors. Inducing bleeding to promote blood clot formation is a commonly used method in many of the reported cases^17–20. A resorbable matrix (collagen wound dressing) should be carefully placed on the top of the blood clot to serve as an internal matrix and ease the placement of MTA¹³. White MTA was applied to act as a coronal plug and achieve effective coronal seal. It was the most frequently chosen material in published regenerative endodontic studies^21–24.

No adverse clinical signs and symptoms were noted during follow up periods, which is considered as a primary goal for regenerative endodontics as reported by AAE¹³. Apical closure and increasing apical dentin thickness were observed at the 12-month follow-up period. This case report demonstrates that PAD is a promising method for controlling infection in a single visit regenerative endodontic procedure. Further randomized clinical studies are needed to assess this disinfection technique.

Data availability

All data underlying the results are available as part of the article and no additional source data are required.

Consent

Written informed consent for publication of their clinical details and clinical images was obtained from the parents of the patient.