Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Application in Endodontics
Ana Bessa Muniz,
Mariana Raquel da Cruz Vegian,
Lady Daiane Pereira Leite,
Diego Morais da Silva,
Noala Vicensoto Moreira Milhan,
Konstantin Georgiev Kostov,
Cristiane Yumi Koga-Ito
Affiliations
Ana Bessa Muniz
Department of Environment Engineering and Sciences Applied to Oral Health Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos 12247-016, SP, Brazil
Mariana Raquel da Cruz Vegian
Department of Environment Engineering and Sciences Applied to Oral Health Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos 12247-016, SP, Brazil
Lady Daiane Pereira Leite
Department of Environment Engineering and Sciences Applied to Oral Health Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos 12247-016, SP, Brazil
Diego Morais da Silva
Department of Environment Engineering and Sciences Applied to Oral Health Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos 12247-016, SP, Brazil
Noala Vicensoto Moreira Milhan
Department of Environment Engineering and Sciences Applied to Oral Health Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos 12247-016, SP, Brazil
Konstantin Georgiev Kostov
Department of Physics, Faculty of Engineering in Guaratinguetá, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Guaratinguetá 12516-410, SP, Brazil
Cristiane Yumi Koga-Ito
Department of Environment Engineering and Sciences Applied to Oral Health Graduate Program, São José dos Campos Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos 12247-016, SP, Brazil
The failure of endodontic treatment is frequently associated with the presence of remaining microorganisms, mainly due to the difficulty of eliminating the biofilm and the limitation of conventional irrigation solutions. Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTPP) has been suggested for many applications in the medical field and can be applied directly to biological surfaces or indirectly through activated liquids. This literature review aims to evaluate the potential of NTPP application in Endodontics. A search in the databases Lilacs, Pubmed, and Ebsco was performed. Seventeen manuscripts published between 2007 and 2022 that followed our established inclusion criteria were found. The selected manuscripts evaluated the use of NTPP regarding its antimicrobial activity, in the direct exposure and indirect method, i.e., plasma-activated liquid. Of these, 15 used direct exposure. Different parameters, such as working gas and distance from the apparatus to the substrate, were evaluated in vitro and ex vivo. NTPP showed a disinfection property against important endodontic microorganisms, mainly Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. The antimicrobial potential was dependent on plasma exposure time, with the highest antimicrobial effects over eight minutes of exposure. Interestingly, the association of NTPP and conventional antimicrobial solutions, in general, was shown to be more effective than both treatments separately. This association showed antimicrobial results with a short plasma exposure time, what could be interesting in clinical practice. However, considering the lack of standardization of the direct exposure parameters and few studies about plasma-activated liquids, more studies in the area for endodontic purposes are still required.
