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Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.

Contact Information:

Dr Shalini Kanagasingam
+44 7398276670
skanagasingam1@uclan.ac.uk


Prof Shanon Patel
+44 20 7935 0080
shanon.patel1@gstt.nhs.uk


Mr Tiago Pimentel
-
t.pimentel@ucl.ac.uk


Study Location:

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Be Part of Research - Trial Details - Root canal treatment outcomes using different ways to clean and disinfect teeth, including light technology (LASER)
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Root canal treatment outcomes using different ways to clean and disinfect teeth, including light technology (LASER)

Recruiting

Open to: All Genders

Age: Adult

Preston London Colchester

Medical Conditions

Healing of apical periodontitis (due to primary endodontic infection)

This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.


This clinical study aims to understand if the effectiveness of root canal treatment, a common dental procedure to save infected teeth, can be enhanced. The goal is to compare different methods of existing root canal disinfection protocols, with the aim of improving the overall success of the treatment.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

10 Jan 2023 31 May 2025

For participants, this study involves undergoing root canal treatment as required for their dental condition. The crucial aspect of the study is the comparison of different techniques used to clean and disinfect the inside of the tooth's root canals during this treatment.
Root canal treatment as already planned and consented for.
The treatment will be the standard of care except for one specific part: the way the disinfectant (irrigant) is activated within the root canals at the end of the cleaning process.
Patients will be randomly allocated to one of three groups, each receiving a different method of irrigant activation:
-Manual agitation
-Sonic activation
-LASER activation

This irrigant activation step will typically last for 1 to 2 minutes per root canal.

Patients will need to attend five visits in total:
1. Initial assessment and consent
2. Treatment
3. 2-week review
4. 1-year review
5. 2-year review

Anonymised information about the patients’ root canal treatment and anonymised radiographs will be sent to researchers at the University of Central Lancashire for analysis. No identifiable data will be sent outside of the patients' dental practice

Participation is entirely voluntary, and patients can withdraw at any time without giving a reason and without it affecting the standard of care they receive


All adult patients who are able to provide consent to have root canal treatment of their tooth with root canal infection.

You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


1. External or internal root resorption2. Pregnant women, in view of requirements for radiographs.3. Patients younger than 18 years.4. Patients unable to give consent.5. Patients who have been administered antibiotics in the previous month. 6. Immunocompromised patients.


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

  • University of Central Lancashire
    Fylde Road
    Preston
    PR1 2HE
  • Dawood and Tanner Specialist Dental Practice
    45 Wimpole St
    London
    W1G 8SB
  • Colchester Dental Specialist Clinic
    Bus park, 841 The Crescent, Highwoods
    Colchester
    CO4 9YQ

There are no additional risks involved in taking part in the study beyond those associated with standard root canal treatment.
There is no direct benefit for participating, but the study aims to improve the understanding and future success of root canal treatments for other patients.
At the end of the treatment and at each review, patients will be informed of any problems encountered and the outcome of your treatment. If the root canal treatment is deemed to have failed, the research team will provide the same treatment as the standard of care (root canal re-treatment, extraction, or endodontic microsurgery).

Prof Shanon Patel
+44 20 7935 0080
shanon.patel1@gstt.nhs.uk


Dr Shalini Kanagasingam
+44 7398276670
skanagasingam1@uclan.ac.uk


Mr Tiago Pimentel
-
t.pimentel@ucl.ac.uk



The study is sponsored by University of Central Lancashire and funded by Investigator initiated and funded; DentsplySirona.



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Read full details for Trial ID: ISRCTN91211125
Last updated 02 May 2025

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