Regular readers may remember that, for a general dentist, I've always loved endodontics. I've had the unique benefit of working with a couple of amazing endodontists who sat with me and gave me a hands-on "mini residency" in how to get the best results possible. If I would have been forced to only do one procedure my entire career, I would have become an endodontist. Because of my intense interest in the subject, I follow the advancements in endodontics with great interest. I've also been fortunate enough to have been able to teach endodontics to other GP's many times in my career. I find it really rewarding to be able to help other doctors, who face the same GP challenges that I do, about ways to make the procedure easier and get better clinical outcomes.
About five years ago, I was visiting AMD Lasers at their headquarters outside Salt Lake City. During that visit, Dr. Densen Cao, the CEO of the company, told me they had begun research on simplifying endodontics. The idea was interesting as it involved using a diode laser to disinfect the canals. For years AMD has manufactured and sold the Picasso line of diode lasers and the company had discovered that there was potentially a way to greatly reduce bacterial counts in root canals through the use of laser disinfection. The idea was in the early stages of research and development, but Dr. Cao thought it held great promise. All good science takes time and AMD did an incredible amount of testing and research in this area. Now, five years later, the company has announced a new laser and their new endodontic protocol, with the science to back it up.
The new laser is the Picasso Pro and the new endo procedure is LEAP (Laser Enhanced Ablation Procedure). The company has research demonstrating >99.9% reduction of E. faecalis and I think this would be a great protocol to pair with the new Endocator from Vista-Apex Solutions.
The recent press release from AMD contains all the critical info...
Innovative integrated diode laser protocol achieves >99.99% bacterial reduction while simplifying endodontic workflow and reducing treatment time
AMD Lasers, Inc., a subsidiary of the CAO Group, Inc. and a global leader in dental technology and manufacturing, today announced the launch of LEAP® (Laser Endodontic Ablation Procedure), a next-generation laser-assisted root canal disinfection system designed to deliver predictable, reliable, and affordable complete bacterial elimination while simplifying clinical workflow. The technology will be formally introduced at the 2026 American Association of Endodontists (AAE) Annual Meeting beginning April 15, 2026.
LEAP integrates the Picasso Pro™ diode laser, proprietary LEAP disinfection solution, and specially engineered LEAP fiber tips to create a complete laser-driven canal disinfection protocol. All LEAP elements and the overall protocol have been FDA approved. Independent laboratory research demonstrates greater than 99.99% bacterial reduction against Enterococcus faecalis, one of the most persistent pathogens in endodontic infections.
Addressing a Two-Century Challenge in Endodontics
Canal disinfection is the most critical step in root canal treatment. Reliable and complete root canal disinfection has been sought by researchers and clinicians since modern endodontic therapy was first introduced more than 200 years ago. Conventional protocols rely primarily on chemical irrigation, most commonly using sodium hypochlorite. Some also combine ultrasonic or laser agitation techniques. While widely used, sodium hypochlorite presents challenges including tissue toxicity risk, procedural complexity, and extended contact times required for improved antimicrobial effectiveness.
Following more than a decade of research and development, AMD scientists have developed a method that converts diode laser energy into controlled thermal ablation within the root canal system, eliminating residual bacteria through ablation while preserving surrounding cementum and periodontal ligament structures.
The LEAP tip, beginning at 200 μm in diameter, enables clinicians to reach the apical third of the canal with minimal canal enlargement, helping preserve natural tooth structure.
Integrated Laser Disinfection Platform
The LEAP system combines four key technologies: the Picasso Pro 810 nm diode laser, dedicated LEAP treatment protocol software, proprietary LEAP irrigation and disinfection solution, and disposable LEAP endodontic fiber tips. This integrated approach enables deep canal penetration, controlled thermal disinfection, and predictable bacterial reduction under low-energy laser parameters.
Independent laboratory testing has demonstrated >99.99% reduction of E. faecalis bacteria. Early clinical evaluation has also reported strong patient comfort outcomes, including 80% of patients reporting no pain with 24 hours of treatment and 100% reporting no pain after seven days.
Faster Workflow for Endodontic Procedures
The LEAP protocol simplifies traditional endodontic procedures and may also significantly reduce treatment time. Key workflow advantages include minimal file sequence and reduced dentin removal, reduced irrigation steps, and shorter solution exposure time. The LEAP protocol also eliminates the need for sodium hypochlorite in root canal treatment.
Together, these efficiencies may reduce endodontic procedure time by up to 50% while minimizing the potential for multi-visit treatments, improving chairside productivity and- enhancing the patient experience.
Picasso Pro: A Multi-Purpose Clinical Platform
The Picasso Pro diode laser platform provides clinicians with a versatile tool for multiple dental procedures, including soft tissue surgery and management, laser assisted pain alleviation (LAPA™) for painless injection, photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, endodontic applications including LEAP, and future laser induced reversible adhesive (LIRA™).
Key platform features of this 810 nm diode laser include its dedicated LEAP protocol mode, iPad-based interface with automatic software updates, and compact design for easy integration into dental operatories.
Clinical and Economic Advantages
LEAP was developed to deliver advanced endodontic technology at a practical price point. The MSRP for the Picasso Pro laser system will be under $10,000, and LEAP consumables carry less than a $30 per-procedure cost. Treatment time is reduced from an average of 90 minutes to 50 minutes, improving the patient experience while allowing clinicians to treat more patients per day. By combining advanced disinfection performance with accessible technology costs, LEAP allows practices to enhance patient care while improving operational efficiency.
Executive Commentary
“LEAP represents the first fully integrated diode laser protocol specifically designed for root canal disinfection and is a part of our continuous innovation in dentistry,” said Densen Cao, PhD, CEO of CAO Group, AMD’s parent company.
“By achieving greater than 99.99% bacterial reduction while eliminating sodium hypochlorite and significantly reducing procedure time, LEAP provides clinicians with a repeatable, reliable, and affordable canal disinfection technology. We believe this innovation represents a revolutionary advancement in dental root canal treatment.”
For more information about LEAP and Picasso Pro, please visit www.amdlasers.com or booth #1809 at the 2026 American Association of Endodontists Annual Meeting. AMD will provide comprehensive demos and lectures at AAE booth. Clinicians can also preview the Picasso Pro system and LEAP products at www.amdlasers.com.
About AMD Lasers
AMD Lasers, Inc. (AMD), a subsidiary of the CAO Group, Inc., is a global innovator and manufacturer in advanced dental technologies. AMD has created many innovations contributing to dentistry including LED curing light, diode lasers, PVP teeth whitening thickener and viscoelastic gelatin strips, direct x-ray photon detection sensor, laser curing light, complete canal disinfection, and many others. The Picasso diode laser product line has become one of the most widely adopted dental laser platforms worldwide. The company innovates and manufactures clinically proven products to make dentistry easier, faster, and better for practitioners and patients.
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