title: Efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in the disinfection of acrylic denture surfaces: A systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present systematic review was to assess the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in the disinfection of acrylic denture surfaces.
  
  
  METHODS
  IN order to address the focused question: "Is aPDT more effective in decontaminating denture surfaces compared with traditional denture-disinfection techniques?" an electronic search without time or language restrictions was conducted up to November 2016 in indexed databases using different key words. The exclusion criteria included qualitative and/or quantitative reviews, case reports, case series, commentaries, letters to the editor, interviews, and updates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 14 studies were included and processed for data extraction, out of which 1 study was a randomized clinical trial and 13 studies were performed in vitro. Results from 12 experimental studies reported that aPDT was effective in reducing bacteria and/or yeast cultured in single or multispecies biofilm growth on acrylic resin specimens. One experimental study reported selective microorganism reduction on acrylic resin after aPDT. One clinical randomized control trial reported that aPDT presented similar microorganism reduction compared with oral antifungal medication for the disinfection of denture surfaces.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of aPDT in the disinfection of acrylic resin surfaces is unclear. From a clinical perspective further randomized control trials are needed to assess the efficacy of aPDT in the disinfection of acrylic resin surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Dentistry, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, NY, USA. Electronic address: sergio_kellesarian@urmc.rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varela Kellesarian
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Tariq
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abduljabbar
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fahim
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vohra
authors.affiliation: Department of General Dentistry, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malmstrom
authors.affiliation: Department of General Dentistry, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yunker
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, Barry University, Miami Shores, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varela Kellesarian
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery and Implant Dentistry, Dental School, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Georgios E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Romanos
authors.affiliation: Department of General Dentistry, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Fawad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Javed
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D003778:Dentures / Q000382:microbiology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite
keywords: Acrylic resins; Dentures; Disinfection; Photochemotherapy