Published in:
01-01-2010 | Original Article
Capacity of photodynamic therapy for microbial reduction in periodontal pockets
Authors:
Sérgio Luiz Pinheiro, Juliana Marla Donegá, Lia Maura Soares Seabra, Marina Dalto Adabo, Talita Lopes, Thiago Henrique Dias do Carmo, Mariângela Cagnoni Ribeiro, Patrícia Fernanda Roesler Bertolini
Published in:
Lasers in Medical Science
|
Issue 1/2010
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Abstract
Practitioners are not successful in implemented treatments due to the great difficulty in completely removing bacterial deposits and their endotoxins. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of photodynamic therapy to reduce the numbers of viable bacteria in periodontal pockets. Microbiological samples were collected before and after scaling and after photodynamic therapy. Photodynamic therapy was performed through the insertion of the photosensitizer toluidine blue and Endo PTC into the pocket for 3 min, followed by photosensitization with low-intensity diode of 4 J/cm2. The results (log10) were submitted to a descriptive analysis and a t-test. A reduction of 81.24% in the numbers of bacteria after scaling was observed, as well as 95.90% after photodynamic therapy (P < 0.01). Photodynamic therapy is indicated as an adjuvant treatment to reduce the numbers of viable bacteria in periodontal diseases.