Photodynamic Therapy and Periodontal Therapy. A Clinical, Microbiological and Immunoenzymatic Analysis

Residual pockets and furcation defects are challenging sites that require additional periodontal therapy. The aim of this study is evaluate 1)the effect of a single photodynamic therapy (PDT) as monotherapy residual pockets in single rooted teeth and 2) the effect of PDT in association with scaling and root planing (SRP) in class II furcation lesions with probing pocket depth (PPD) \>5mm and bleeding on probing (BoP). A blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in subjects presenting at least three residual pockets in single root teeth and subjects with at least one molar presenting class II furcation defect. To evaluate the effect of a single PDT as monotherapy in residual pockets, the selected sites were assigned to receive: PDT alone, photosensitizer alone or SRP alone. To evaluate the effect of PDT in association with SRP in class II furcation lesions, the selected sites were assigned to PDT+SRP or SRP alone. Clinical, microbiological and immunoenzymatic analyses were assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months post-therapies.