title: Short-term microbiological effects of photodynamic therapy in non-surgical periodontal treatment of residual pockets: A split-mouth RCT.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used as a therapeutic alternative to treat periodontitis, especially in challenging sites that require additional periodontal therapy such as residual pockets. The aim of this split-mouth randomized trial was to evaluate the microbiological and clinical effects of PDT on non-surgical treatment of unresponsive pockets.
  
  
  
  A split-mouth, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 15 patients presenting at least two residual pockets (probing pocket depth [PPD] ≥5 mm with bleeding on probing [BoP]) in single-rooted teeth in supportive periodontal therapy. The selected sites randomly received: (1) SRP + PDT: scaling and root planing combined with photodynamic therapy (methylene blue as a photosensitizer), or (2) SRP: scaling and root planing alone. The concentrations of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were evaluated using a Real-time PCR technique at baseline and 3, 7, 14, and 90 days. Clinical parameters were assessed at baseline and 3 months post-therapies.
  
  
  
  Both treatments promoted clinical improvements, with additional benefits to the SRP + PDT group in PPD reduction and clinical attachment level gain (P < 0.05) after 3 months. Only the SRP + PDT group exhibited a statistically significant reduction in the levels of A. actinomycetemcomitans on the 3rd and 7th days after therapy (P < 0.05), and a lower concentration of this pathogen was detected at 7 days in the SRP + PDT group when compared to the other therapy (P < 0.05).
  
  
  
  The combined therapeutic approach SRP + PDT may reduce A. actinomycetemcomitans levels for a short-term period, associated with additional improvement in clinical parameters in treating residual pockets. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:944-950, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Division, School of Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mônica Grazieli
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Division, School of Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Deborah Haydee
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Division, School of Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cintia Helena Coury
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Saraceni
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Division, School of Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Vieira
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Division, School of Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suzana Peres
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Division, School of Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiano Ribeiro
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Cirano
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Division, School of Dentistry, Paulista University, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato Corrêa Viana
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Casarin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005881:Gingiva / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016745:Root Planing; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D008751:Methylene Blue
keywords: chronic periodontitis; microbiology; periodontal pocket; photochemotherapy; root planning