The antimicrobial effectiveness of photodynamic therapy used as an addition to the conventional endodontic re-treatment: A clinical study

• Published in: Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy Vol. 11; no. 4; pp. 549 - 555
• Main Authors: Jurič, Ivona Bago, Plečko, Vanda, Pandurić, Dragana Gabrić, Anić, Ivica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena - drug effects; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena - radiation effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cell Survival - radiation effects; Combined Modality Therapy; Dental Pulp Cavity - drug effects; Dental Pulp Cavity - microbiology; Dental Pulp Cavity - radiation effects; Endodontic re-treatment; Female; Focal Infection, Dental - microbiology; Focal Infection, Dental - prevention & control; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Internal Medicine; Laser; Light; Male; Middle Aged; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizing Agents - administration & dosage; Root canal infection; Root Canal Preparation - methods; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; Photodynamic therapy; Endodontic re-treatment; Laser; Root canal infection
• ISSN: 1572-1000; 1873-1597; 1873-1597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2014.10.004

•The addition of the aPDT to the conventional chemomechanical root canal preparation led to the significant further reduction of the number of CFUs or even to complete elimination of bacteria in some cases.•The addition of the aPDT to the conventional chemomechanical root canal preparation led to the significant of bacteria species from the root canal.•The combination of chemomechanical preparation and the aPDT was more successful elimination of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria species compared to the chemomechanical preparation alone. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) used as an adjunct to the endodontic re-treatment in the eradication of microorganisms from previously filled root canals. The study sample consisted of 21 randomly selected patients with root filled and infected root canal system with chronic apical periodontitis on incisors or canines, who have had previously endodontic treatment. Microbiological samples from the root canals were collected after accessing the canal, following the endodontic re-treatment and after the aPDT procedure. During instrumentation, the root canals were irrigated with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and the final irrigation protocol included 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid followed by NaOCl. Root canals were filled with a phenothiazinium chloride and irradiated with a diode laser (λ=660nm, 100mW) for 1min. Microbiological samples from the root canals were cultivated on selective plates, and the identification was done by micromorphology, macromorphology and different API strips as well as bacterial counts (colony forming units). Fourteen bacteria species were isolated from the root canals initially, with a mean value of 4.57 species per canal. Although endodontic re-treatment alone produced a significant reduction in the number of bacteria species (p<0.001), the combination of endodontic treatment and aPDT was statistically more effective (p<0.001). No bacteria were cultivated from the main root canals of 11 teeth. The results indicated that the aPDT used as an adjunct to the conventional endodontic therapy achieved a significant further reduction of intracanal microbial load.