Effectiveness of photodynamic therapy and probiotics as an adjunct to scaling and root debridement in the treatment of chronic periodontitis

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a single application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and probiotics as an adjunct to scaling and root debridement (SRD) to treat chronic periodontitis. The objectives of the study were to compare the probing pocket depths and clinical attachment loss (CAL) in experimental sites (E-sites) treated with PDT and probiotics with SRD against SRD alone (controls) at the baseline and 3 months post intervention. Materials and Methods: In 22 chronic periodontitis patients aged 25-45 years, 136 sites with pocket depths of 4-6 mm were identified. In each patient, one E-site was randomly selected while one served as control. E-sites were treated with SRD + PDT + probiotics whereas control sites received only SRD. Clinical parameters of pocket depths and CAL were measured at the baseline and at 3 months. Results: In the E-sites, mean pocket depth was 3.62 ± 1.40 mm at the baseline and 3.12 ± 1.48 mm after 3 months. In the control sites, the mean pocket depth was 3.43 ± 1.46 mm at the baseline and 2.99 ± 1.45 after 3 months. In the E-sites, the mean CAL before treatment was 5.31 ± 1.39 mm and 5.10 ± 1.46 mm after treatment. In the control sites, mean CAL before treatment was 5.15 ± 1.41 mm and 4.87 ± 1.55 mm after treatment. There was no significant improvement in pockets depths and CAL between the E-sites and control sites. Conclusion: A single application of PDT + probiotics with SRD did not show any additional clinical benefits when compared with SRD alone. Further studies with multiple applications of PDT and probiotics are needed.