Electrochemical Disinfection of Experimentally Infected Teeth by Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode Treatment

• Main Authors: Anna-Lena Böhm, Maximilian Koch, Stefan Rosiwal, Andreas Burkovski, Matthias Karl, Tanja Grobecker-Karl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-11-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Subjects: antimicrobial treatment; dentin tubules; electrochemical disinfection; endodontics; irrigating solutions; root canal
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/8/12/2037

Disinfection and prevention of re-infection are the decisive treatment steps in endodontic therapy. In this study, boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes have been fabricated and used for disinfecting the root canals of extracted human teeth, which had been covered with bacterial biofilms formed by <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> and <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>. The growth of <i>B. subtilis</i> could be successfully impaired, achieving a complete disinfection after 8.5 min treatment time with the success of disinfection depending on the insertion depth of the electrode in the root canal. <i>S. epidermidis</i> could completely be removed after 3.5 min treatment time. A clinically applicable electrode array led to complete disinfection after treatment times of 10 min for <i>S. epidermidis</i> and 25 min for <i>B. subtilis</i>. BDD electrode application allowed for the improved disinfection of root canals and dentin tubules based on a continuous production of reactive oxygen species and their enhanced penetration of dentin tubules most likely due the formation of a continuous stream of small gas bubbles. The treatment times that are required here will be shortened in clinical application, as mechanical shaping of the canal system would precede the disinfection process.