Short-term clinical effects of adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in periodontal treatment: a randomized clinical trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with untreated chronic periodontitis were included. All teeth received periodontal treatment comprising scaling and root planing. Using a split-mouth design, two quadrants (test group) were additionally treated with aPDT. Sulcus fluid flow rate (SFFR) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were assessed at baseline, 1 week and 3 months after treatment. Relative attachment level (RAL), probing depths (PDs) and gingival recession (GR) were evaluated at baseline and 3 months after treatment. Results: Baseline median values for PD, GR and RAL were not different in the test group and control group. Values for RAL, PD, SFFR and BOP decreased significantly 3 months after treatment in the control group (median delta RAL: -0.35 mm, inter-quartile range: 0.21 mm), with a higher impact on the sites treated with adjunctive aPDT (median delta RAL: -0.67 mm, inter-quartile range: 0.36 mm, p < 0.05). GR increased 3 months after treatment with and without adjunctive aPDT (p < 0.05), with no difference between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In patients with chronic periodontitis, clinical outcomes of conventional subgingival debridement can be improved by adjunctive aPDT.