Treatment of experimental periodontal disease by photodynamic therapy in immunosuppressed rats

Abstract

Background and objective: The aim of this study was to compare photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an adjunctive treatment of induced periodontitis with scaling and root planing (SRP) in dexamethasone-inhibited rats.

Material and methods: The animals were divided into two groups: ND (n=90), saline solution treatment; D (n=90), dexamethasone treatment. In the ND and D Groups, periodontal disease was ligature-induced at the first mandibular molar. After 7 days, the ligature was removed and all animals received SRP and were divided according to the following treatments: SRP, saline solution; Toluidine Blue-O (TBO), phenothiazinium dye; and PDT, TBO and laser irradiation. Ten animals in each treatment were killed at 7, 15 and 30 days. The radiographic and histometric values were statistically analysed.

Results: In the ND and D Groups, radiographic analysis showed less bone loss in animals treated by PDT in all the experimental periods than SRP and TBO at 15 days (p<0.05). After a histometric analysis was carried out in the ND and D groups, the animals treated by PDT showed less bone loss in all periods than SRP and TBO after 15 days (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The PDT was an effective adjunctive treatment of induced periodontitis compared with SRP in dexamethasone-inhibited rats.