Pulsed atmospheric-pressure cold plasma for endodontic disinfection

A non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma dental probe is developed to disinfect root canal systems during endodontic treatment. A 100% killing of the test organism Bacillus atrophaeus on nutrient agar plates, 5 mm away from the probe nozzle, with an exposure time of 60 s at an average power 2-3 W for both He and He/(1%)O_2, is observed during prelimenary experiment. Results show that non-thermal plasma dental probe is simpler, safer, and more effective procedure for root canal disinfection than other techniques like mechanical cleaning, irrigation, application of anti-bacterial compounds (e.g. hypochorite), and lasers.