Cold plasma: A New Realm in Endodontic Disinfection

Cold plasma is an emerging field with vast scope and incorporates broad interdisciplinary approach to the reader ranging from physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. It has recently engaged medicine and dental hygiene in research. Apart from the basic plasma processes and the restrictions and requirements set by international health standards, the review focuses on plasma interaction with prokaryotic cells (bacteria), eukaryotic cells (mammalian cells), cell membranes, DNA etc. The role that Low Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (LTAPP) could play in the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms might prove to be a new, faster, noncorrosive, more economical alternative, as well as support green healthcare. The PubMed database search revealed that the reference list for cold Plasma featured 1,17,000 articles in dentistry. A forward search was undertaken for the selected articles, author names and contemporary endodontic texts. A review is presented on the key developments in the arena of plasma medicine and dentistry so as to familiarize the modern dentists with the new advances in endodontic disinfection.