Novel indocyanine green mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in the management of chronic periodontitis - A randomized controlled clinico-microbiological pilot study

Abstract

BackgroundThe use of scaling, root planing, antimicrobials, or antibiotics in the treatment of Chronic Periodontitis have proven beneficial in the past. The reduction in inflammatory markers and significant resolve in the clinical signs and symptoms and microbial loads evinced by a number of studies are a clear corroboration of the fact, but certain restraints utilizing these methods call for more effective ways of treating the disease. Later, lasers or photodynamic dyes used with the lasers like methylene blue or toluidine blue O have also not proven much efficacy and need further research. Hence the present pilot study is a step forward in this direction as it helps analyse the microbiological and clinical effects of indocyanine green antimicrobial photodynamic therapy an as adjunct to the non-surgical periodontal therapy in treating chronic periodontitis patients. Materials and methods30 patients diagnosed with generalized chronic periodontitis were treated with scaling and root planing alone - control sites; and indocyanine green antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in addition to scaling and root planing - experimental sites. 810 ​nm low level Gallium Aluminium Arsenide diode laser was used to activate the dye in the periodontal pockets of the experimental sites. Clinical parameters i.e. gingival index, plaque index, sulcus bleeding index, probing pocket depth and relative attachment level; and microbiological parameter i.e. the total viable anaerobic count were recorded at the inception and at 3- and 6-months post therapy. ResultsExperimental sites showed significantly greater amelioration in all inquired clinical parameters and microbiological parameter at the end of 3- and 6-months of therapy. ConclusionWhile the gold standard scaling and root planing remains, clinicians may also contemplate using the indocyanine green mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to it. Also, it is a safer, cost effective, less arduous, and patient friendly means of treating the disease.