Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Periodontitis - Review of the Literature

The aim of the study is, based on the review of the literature to present the current knowledge about the possibility of using Photodynamic Antimicrobial Chemotherapy in the treatment of periodontitis. The microbiological etiology of periodontitis leads to consider the photodynamic therapy as the adjunctive approach in the treatment of inflammation of the supporting structures of the teeth. The rise in antibiotic resistance, insufficient drug concentration in biofilm and many adverse effects has driven to research for new anti-microbial strategies. The photodynamic therapy leads to the inactivation of bacteria within the reactive oxygen species which are produced due the cooperation of the photosensitizer, light of an appropriate wavelength and molecular oxygen. The photosensitizers used in periodontology, which are not harmful to periodontal tissues and effective against bacteria are methylene blue, toluidine blue and poly-L-lysine-chlorine e6. The light source is, in most cases, LED diode. With respect to many in vitro studies which demonstrated the effective bactericidal effect, the results from the clinical trails do not allow to unequivocal valuation of this therapeutic strategy