Photo-Activated Disinfection comes of age

Prompted by the growing success of Photo-Activated Disinfection system in Australia, High Tech Laser has released the SaveDent Red and Blue - a multi-function second generation PAD unit.

The September/October 2003 edition of Australasian Dental Practice featured an article from Professor L. J. Walsh regarding Photo-Activated Disinfection (PAD) - a breakthrough in clinical disinfection for caries elimination, dentine re-mineralisation, and endodontic sterilisation.

PAD is a technology that was developed by the Eastman Dental Institute in London, and has been developed from theory into clinical practice through research undertaken at both Eastman and The University of Queensland in Brisbane.

The benefits of PAD surround its versatility, effectiveness and the fact that its components are relatively benign. The PAD light source is a low-level Class 2 laser which is used to activate a special tolonium chloride solution. This combination ensures PAD does not harm non-target tissues - the process is specifically bacteriocidal.

The system uses a low-powered laser light transmitted through a fibre-optic tip to activate the PAD anti-bacterial solution. PAD eliminates more than 99.99% of bacteria found in caries and endodontic canals, including E. faecalis in biofilms. The process allows for the immediate activation of re-mineralisation of the dentine after caries treatment.

PAD is a relatively inexpensive system and provides several benefits over competing technologies, including ease of use and safety. Most notably, PAD achieves superior penetration allowing for effective treatment of deep carious lesions.

High Tech Laser managing director Matt Moncrieff said that the new unit has enhanced functionality and ensures dentists can gain the full benefits of Photo-Activated Disinfection.

"The emergence of this versatile, minimally-invasive tool provides dentists with an additional level of certainty for both treating caries and preparing endodontic canals, with particular benefits gained through re-mineralisation of the dentine after caries treatment," he said.

The SaveDent Red and Blue also features as standard a cordless LED curing light.

The unit's other applications include disinfection prior to crown preparations, inhibiting the progress of caries in exposed root surfaces, laser-activated fluoride treatments, and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for therapeutic applications.

"The SaveDent Red and Blue builds on the unit's success as an endodontic tool by further enhancing its abilities to treat caries and therefore remineralise dentine. With an almost total bacteriocidal effect and a simple process to eliminate caries, SaveDent is now the gold standard for minimally-invasive dentistry."