title: Effect of photodynamic therapy adjunct to scaling and root planing in periodontitis patients: A randomized clinical trial.
abstract: A randomized split-mouth controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in reducing Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) in periodontitis patients.
  
  
  
  Twenty patients with periodontitis were recruited for the trial. Following random allocation of either quadrants of the selected jaw to test or control treatment, conventional non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) was performed. In addition, the test side received adjunct photodynamic therapy. Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing (BoP) and plaque scores (PS%) were recorded at phase 0 (baseline), phase 1 (immediately after NSPT), phase 2 (7 days following NSPT), phase 3 (1 month following NSPT) and phase 4 (3 months following NSPT). Subgingival plaque samples for quantification of Aa by real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed at phases 0, 1, 2 and 4.
  
  
  
  There was a significant clinical improvement at phases 3 and 4 compared with baseline while BoP reduced significantly only in the test group at phase 4. However, no difference in the quantification of Aa was detected between the groups.
  
  
  
  Within the limits of the study, PDT adjunct to scaling and root planing does not lead to quantitative reduction of Aa in periodontitis patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S J
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5727-8255
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pulikkotil
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Toh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Malaysian Allied Health Science University (MAHSA), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mohandas
authors.affiliation: International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kvg
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D012534:Dental Scaling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016871:Pasteurellaceae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016745:Root Planing; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 
  Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
  ; antimicrobial; non-surgical periodontal therapy; periodontitis; photodynamic therapy