Short-term microbiological effects of photodynamic therapy in non-surgical periodontal treatment of residual pockets: A split-mouth RCT

• Published in: Lasers in surgery and medicine 2016-12, Vol.48 (10), p.944-950
• Main Authors: Corrêa, Mônica Grazieli, Oliveira, Deborah Haydee, Saraceni, Cintia Helena Coury, Ribeiro, Fernanda Vieira, Pimentel, Suzana Peres, Cirano, Fabiano Ribeiro, Casarin, Renato Corrêa Viana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans - isolation & purification; Bleeding; chronic periodontitis; Combined Modality Therapy; Dental Scaling - methods; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gingiva - microbiology; Gum disease; Humans; Lasers; Male; Methylene blue; Methylene Blue - pharmacology; Methylene Blue - therapeutic use; microbiology; Microbiota - drug effects; Middle Aged; Mouth; Parameters; periodontal pocket; Periodontal Pocket - microbiology; Periodontal Pocket - therapy; Periodontitis; photochemotherapy; Photochemotherapy - methods; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizing Agents - pharmacology; Photosensitizing Agents - therapeutic use; Planing; Porphyromonas gingivalis; Porphyromonas gingivalis - isolation & purification; Prospective Studies; Reduction; Root Planing; root planning; Scaling; Single-Blind Method; Statistical analysis; Surgery; Teeth; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0196-8092; 1096-9101
• DOI: 10.1002/lsm.22449

Background and Objective Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used as a therapeutic alternative to treat periodontitis, especially in challenging sites that require additional periodontal therapy such as residual pockets. The aim of this split‐mouth randomized trial was to evaluate the microbiological and clinical effects of PDT on non‐surgical treatment of unresponsive pockets. Study Design/Materials and Methods A split‐mouth, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 15 patients presenting at least two residual pockets (probing pocket depth [PPD] ≥5 mm with bleeding on probing [BoP]) in single‐rooted teeth in supportive periodontal therapy. The selected sites randomly received: (1) SRP + PDT: scaling and root planing combined with photodynamic therapy (methylene blue as a photosensitizer), or (2) SRP: scaling and root planing alone. The concentrations of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were evaluated using a Real‐time PCR technique at baseline and 3, 7, 14, and 90 days. Clinical parameters were assessed at baseline and 3 months post‐therapies. Results Both treatments promoted clinical improvements, with additional benefits to the SRP + PDT group in PPD reduction and clinical attachment level gain (P