High Tech Laser Australia presents Photo-Activated Disinfection (PAD) – a breakthrough in the fight against pathogenic bacteria. PAD is a fast and effective, minimally invasive disinfection system which is ideal for endodontics and caries therapy.

• Increased certainty for endodontic treatments
• Kills more than 99.99% of bacteria in endodontic biofilms
• Caries therapy – promote dentine re-mineralisation

1. Endodontics.
Clinical and laboratory studies have confirmed that PAD is effective against bacteria in biofilms in the root canal system. Endodontic treatments are given increased certainty, with root canal disinfection prior to restoration reducing post-treatment infection risk.

2. Cavity Preparation.
PAD assists minimally invasive cavity preparation techniques by penetrating partially demineralised dentine, eliminating cariogenic bacteria and reducing the amount of tissue that needs to be removed.

3. The PAD Process.
Low-powered laser light is transmitted through a disposable fibre-optic tip to activate the PAD anti-bacterial solution. Within 1 - 3 minutes the PAD system eliminates more than 99.99% of bacteria found in root canals and in the cavity floor of deep carious lesions.

4. Studies and Safety.
Extensive research studies in Europe and Australia since the early 1990s, including work by University College London and clinical studies in Germany, have clearly proved the efficacy and safety of PAD. Normal human cells and tissues are not affected by PAD.

• PAD is not a thermal process and therefore adjacent tissues are not subjected to bystander thermal injury.
• PAD treatment does not cause sensitisation.
• PAD has a lesser effect on adjacent cells such as fibroblasts and keratinocytes than silicon impression material.
• Neither the PAD solution nor the reactive oxygen species produced from it are toxic to the patient.

5. Why is PAD Significant?
PAD is a new technology which eliminates the following physical and chemical risks and problems of existing bleach-based disinfectants:

• limited efficacy against organisms within biofilms
• low specificity
• limited effectiveness against a range of organisms.

PAD overcomes problems of antibiotic resistance.
PAD does not pose any thermal risks due to the low power of the PAD laser.
PAD can be applied effectively for killing gram-positive, gram-negative, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria - in fact, all commonly encountered bacteria associated with dental disease.
PAD can kill bacteria in complex biofilms, such as subgingival plaque, which are typically resistant to the action of antimicrobial agents.

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