Antimicrobial effects of photodynamic therapy on patients with necrotic pulps and periapical lesion

J Endod. 2008 Feb;34(2):138-42. doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2007.10.020. Epub 2007 Dec 21.

Abstract

This study analyzed the antimicrobial effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in association with endodontic treatment. Twenty patients were selected. Microbiological samples were taken after accessing the canal, endodontic therapy, and PDT. At the end of the first session, the root canal was filled with Ca(OH)(2), and after 1 week, a second session of the therapies was performed. Endodontic therapy gave a mean reduction of 1.08 log. The combination with PDT significantly enhanced the reduction (1.83 log, p = 0.00002). The second endodontic session gave a similar diminution to the first (1.14 log), and the second PDT was significantly more effective than the first (p = 0.002). The second total reduction was significantly higher than the second endodontic therapy (p = 0.0000005). The total first + second reduction (3.19 log) was significantly different from the first combination (p = 0.00006). Results suggest that the use of PDT added to endodontic treatment leads to an enhanced decrease of bacterial load and may be an appropriate approach for the treatment of oral infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Bacteria / growth & development
  • Calcium Hydroxide / therapeutic use
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cuspid / microbiology
  • Dental Pulp Cavity / microbiology
  • Dental Pulp Necrosis / drug therapy*
  • Dental Pulp Necrosis / microbiology
  • Dental Pulp Necrosis / therapy
  • Humans
  • Imines / therapeutic use
  • Incisor / microbiology
  • Lasers, Semiconductor / therapeutic use
  • Periapical Periodontitis / drug therapy*
  • Periapical Periodontitis / microbiology
  • Periapical Periodontitis / therapy
  • Photochemotherapy / methods*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / therapeutic use
  • Polyethylenes / therapeutic use
  • Polylysine / analogs & derivatives
  • Polylysine / therapeutic use
  • Porphyrins / therapeutic use
  • Root Canal Filling Materials / therapeutic use
  • Root Canal Preparation / methods
  • Root Canal Therapy*

Substances

  • Imines
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Polyethylenes
  • Porphyrins
  • Root Canal Filling Materials
  • clorin e6-(Lys)5-OH
  • poly(ethylene imine)
  • Polylysine
  • Calcium Hydroxide