Abstract: A medical/dental handpiece comprises a housing having distal portion, the head portion having a bottom surface defining an opening. A motor and a light source are positioned with the handpiece, and the handpiece removably receives a light guide in alignment with the light source, to receive light from the light source. The light guide includes a probe which can be positioned adjacent or within a treatment area. The handpiece can be operated to activate only the light source, such that light is directed through the probe to or into the treatment area, to activate only the motor to rotationally or reciprocatingly drive the light guide, or to activate both the light source and the motor.

Abstract: A light transmitting probe for use in endodontic procedures comprises a light transmitting core and a metallic sheath surrounding said core. The metallic sheath defines a reflective inner surface. The probe further includes a plurality of apertures formed in the sheath, such that light can exit said probe through the apertures.

Abstract: A photo-chemically activated micro-bubble based root canal disinfection method for disinfecting a shaped root canal comprises (a) introducing a photoactive solution into the root canal, the photoactive solution containing a photoactive compound (such as methylene blue) dissolved in an alcohol carrier solution (such as polyethylene glycol and/or ethanol); (b) removing excess photoactive solution from the root canal; (c) introducing a micro-bubble solution comprised of an oxygen carrier (such as perfluorocarbon), an oxidizing agent (such as hydrogen peroxide) and a surfactant (such as a nonionic polyoxyethylene surfactant); (d) sonically or ultrasonically activating the micro-bubble solution in the canal; and (e) introducing light into the canal.