An interventional study of Ultrasonic Activation and 980-nm Diode Laser Activation in Pulp Necrosis and Root Canal Infection, sponsored by Hasanuddin University. Completed at 1 site in Indonesia. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-26.
Sponsored by Hasanuddin University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This randomized clinical trial aimed to compare residual oral bacterial DNA detection after ultrasonic irrigant activation and 980-nm diode laser irrigant activation during root canal treatment of necrotic single-rooted teeth. Sixteen patients requiring endodontic treatment were randomly assigned into two groups: ultrasonic activation or 980-nm diode laser activation. Root canals were prepared using standardized chemomechanical procedures and irrigated with 3% sodium hypochlorite activated by the assigned method. Microbial samples were collected before treatment and after irrigant activation. Bacterial DNA was identified using 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing. The primary outcome was the presence or absence of detectable oral bacterial DNA after treatment, while the secondary outcome was the taxonomic pattern of detected bacteria before and after activation. The study was designed to explore the comparative antibacterial effects of ultrasonic and diode laser activation in infected root canals.
Pulp necrosis is associated with microbial colonization and biofilm formation within the root canal system. Residual bacteria that persist after root canal treatment may contribute to persistent infection and unfavorable clinical outcomes. Although chemomechanical preparation and sodium hypochlorite irrigation are essential components of endodontic disinfection, anatomical complexities may limit complete bacterial elimination. Therefore, irrigant activation techniques have been introduced to improve irrigant penetration, biofilm disruption, and antimicrobial effectiveness.
Ultrasonic activation enhances irrigant movement through acoustic streaming and cavitation, whereas diode laser activation may produce additional photothermal antibacterial effects and deeper penetration into dentinal tubules. However, evidence comparing residual bacterial detection after these activation methods remains limited, particularly when evaluated using molecular identification techniques.
This exploratory randomized clinical trial compared ultrasonic irrigant activation and 980-nm diode laser irrigant activation in necrotic single-rooted teeth using 16S rRNA PCR sequencing. The study was conducted at the Dental and Oral Hospital of Hasanuddin University and the Hasanuddin University Medical Research Center, Indonesia. Sixteen necrotic single-rooted teeth were randomly allocated into two groups: ultrasonic activation (n = 8) and 980-nm diode laser activation (n = 8).
After rubber dam isolation and access preparation under aseptic conditions, initial microbial samples were collected before chemomechanical preparation. Root canal instrumentation was performed using ProGlider and ProTaper Gold rotary instruments up to F2. In both groups, canals were irrigated using 3% sodium hypochlorite. In the ultrasonic group, irrigant activation was performed using ultrasonic activation at 45 kHz for 20 seconds per cycle for three cycles. In the diode laser group, activation was performed using a 980-nm diode laser at 1.5 W for 20 seconds per cycle for three cycles. Post-treatment microbial samples were then collected.
Bacterial DNA was extracted and amplified using universal 16S rRNA primers, followed by sequencing and taxonomic identification. The primary outcome was the presence or absence of detectable oral bacterial DNA after treatment. Secondary outcomes included identification of bacterial taxa detected before and after treatment and comparison of bacterial profile reduction between activation methods.
The study was designed as an exploratory clinical-molecular investigation intended to generate preliminary evidence regarding the antibacterial effects of ultrasonic and diode laser irrigant activation in root canal disinfection.
149 studies on the registry are indexed under Dental Pulp Necrosis; 39 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 16 is below the median of 45 across 140 interventional studies indexed under Dental Pulp Necrosis.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants received root canal treatment with irrigant activation using ultrasonic activation in combination with 3% sodium hypochlorite irrigation. Ultrasonic activation was performed at 45 kHz for 20 seconds per cycle for three cycles with irrigant renewal between cycles
Device: Ultrasonic Activation
Participants received root canal treatment with irrigant activation using a 980-nm diode laser in combination with 3% sodium hypochlorite irrigation. Laser activation was performed at 1.5 W for 20 seconds per cycle for three cycles with irrigant renewal between cycles.
Device: 980-nm Diode Laser Activation
Ultrasonic irrigant activation was performed during root canal treatment using an ultrasonic device at 45 kHz for 20 seconds per cycle for three cycles with 3% sodium hypochlorite irrigation.
Diode laser irrigant activation was performed during root canal treatment using a 980-nm diode laser at 1.5 W for 20 seconds per cycle for three cycles with 3% sodium hypochlorite irrigation.
Presence of Detectable Oral Bacterial DNA After Irrigant Activation
Detection of residual oral bacterial DNA in root canals after irrigant activation using ultrasonic activation or 980-nm diode laser activation, assessed by 16S rRNA PCR sequencing.
Time frame: Immediately after completion of irrigant activation during root canal treatment.
Plan to share: No — The IPD will not be shared because the researchers have guaranteed the confidentiality of patient data
This study is completed, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Hasanuddin University