Efficacy of Er.Cr.YSGG Laser, Ti Sapphire Laser and Zinc Pthalocyanine (TM ZnPc) Apical Root Canal Treatment on Smear Layer Removal. A Scanning Electron Microscopy Study

Aims: Comparison of the smear layer-removing capacity of several final irrigants (Er, Cr: YSGG laser (ECL), zinc phthalocyanine (TM-ZnPc), titanium: sapphire laser (Ti)) employed in the apical third of radicular dentin to and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). Material and Methods: The chamber was opened, and 15 K file established canal patency. TruNatomy prime shaping files treated root canals. Root canal disinfectant was 3 mL of 2.25 NaOCl between each file. After disinfection, the teeth were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10). Groups 1–4:17% EDTA, ECL, Ti: sapphire laser, and TM-ZnPc. The root was separated by chiseling longitudinal grooves on the mesial and distal surfaces. SEM magnification at 5000X was used to evaluate smear layer removal based on dentinal tubule patency in the apical one-third of root canals using Gutman et al. grading system. IBM-SPSS 23.0 analyzed data. One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test compared groups. p =0.05. Results: Group-2 (NaOCl+ECL) specimens removed the most smear layer. Group-4 (NaOCl+TM-ZnPc) removed the least smear layer. Group-1 (NaOCl+EDTA), Group-2, and Group-3 (NaOCl+Ti sapphire laser) showed equivalent smear layer removal efficacy. Conclusion: Er: Cr, YSGG, and Ti: sapphire laser with sodium hypochlorite has the potential to remove the apical third smear layer.