Effectiveness of photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to periodontal scaling for treating periodontitis in geriatric patients

M.F. Elsadek, M.F. Farahat

Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. mfbadr@ksu.edu.sa

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• Dentistry

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to explore the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis among geriatric patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This clinical trial assessed 60 geriatric patients having severe periodontitis (Stage III/Grade C). Participants were randomized in two groups: Group A – SRP + PDT (test group) and Group B – SRP alone. The assessment of clinical periodontal parameters included plaque scores (PS), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Crevicular fluid interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were assessed using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). All measurements were performed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively. Mann-Whitney test was employed to analyze the mean values and establish inter-group comparisons. The p-value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS: The mean age of the included patients ranged from 65.4 to 67.1 years. On inter-group comparison, a statistically significant reduction in PS and BOP was seen for Group A patients compared to Group B patients at 3 months follow-up (p<0.001). Probing depth and CAL were reduced in both groups. However, at 3 months and 6 months follow-up, the inter-group comparison showed reduced PD (p<0.01) and gain in CAL (p<0.001) for Group A in comparison to Group B. At each follow-up re-evaluation, there was no significant difference in the IL-1β levels between both the groups (p>0.05). The same trend was followed by IL-6 at 3 months. However, the reduction in the IL-6 was maintained until 6 months of re-evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS: PDT helped to reduce the clinical and pro-inflammatory load within the diseased periodontal pockets in geriatric patients.

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