PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY USING FOTOSAN 630 AS AN ADJUNCT TO SCALING AND ROOT PLANING FOR TREATMENT OF CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS - A CLINICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Persistent pockets with incomplete eradication of microorganisms following scaling and root planing (SRP), remain as risk factor for progression of chronic periodontitis. Thus, the goal of the present study is to assess the efciency of light-emitting diode (LED) in reducing probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) along with lethal photosensitization of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and also as an adjunct to SRP for treatment of chronic periodontitis. Methods – Sixty sites were randomly divided into two groups of 30 each. The test sites received SRP with photodynamic therapy (Fotosan LED + toluidine blue as photosensitizer). Control sites received only SRP. Oral hygiene status was assessed using plaque index (PI) and gingival bleeding index (GBI) along with clinical parameters like PPD and CAL were measured at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Subgingival plaque samples are collected from both sites to evaluate quantitative analysis of P. gingivalis in relation to 16S rRNA using Real-Time polymerase chain reaction (rT-PCR) at baseline and 3 months. Results – Statistically signicant improvement was seen in plaque and gingival bleeding scores with signicant reduction in PPD and CAL in the test sites when compared to the control sites. Similar results were obtained for quantitative analysis of P. gingivalis between both the groups. Conclusion – PDT applying LED as the light source, is an easy-to-use anti-infective therapy for the daily practice and can be used as an effective adjunct to SRP in improving the clinical and microbiological parameters.