Abstract:Objective To evaluate the antibacterial effectiveness of Nd: YAG laser for Escherichia coli in infectious tooth root canals in vitro. Methods Thirty anterior teeth inoculated with Escherichia coli for 3 weeks were randomly divided into 5 groups with 6 teeth in each group. In the experiment group A 1.5 W laser dose was applied to root canals for 30 s. In the group B 2.1 W laser dose was applied for 30 s. In the group C 2.1 W laser dose applied for 3 times, 30 s for each irradiation time with an interval of 15 s. In the group D after the teeth were washed by 2.5% sodium hypochlorite, 2.1 W laser was applied for 3 times, 30 s each time. In the control group E the teeth were only washed by 2.5% sodium hypochlorite. Microbiological samples were collected from root canals for bacterial culture immediately before and after irradiation or irrigation, and the colony-forming units (CFU) were counted after 48 h to compare the effect of killing Escherichia coli in root canals. Results The bacteria in root canals significantly decreased after irradiation and/or irrigation, the differences were significant in each group. Pairwise comparison of the reduction of bacteria in root canals of each group was used. There was no statistical difference between the groups A and B (P > 0.05), but both group A and group B had significant differences from the groups C, D and E respectively (P < 0.05). The group C had significant difference from the group D (P < 0.05), but had no significant difference from the control group (P > 0.05). The group D had significant difference from the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions Both Nd: YAG laser and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite have antibacterial effects on Escherichia coli within root canals, and their combination is more effective.