A case report of photodynamic therapy on bacterial reduction before immediate implant

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated that a number of oral bacteria can be killed by photodynamic therapy with low concentrations of dyes. Photodynamic therapy is the combination of light with appropriate wavelength and a photosensitizer. The antimicrobial activity is mainly mediated by singlet oxygen and/or free radicals generated by the photoactivated sensitizer. A flap surgery aiming an immediate implant was made in a residual root with periodontal lesion on upper first premolar. After the extraction, a microbiological sample with sterile paper points was harvested. Then, the photosensitizer was applied in the infected alveolus and irradiated with low-intensity laser, ?= 660 nm, P= 30 mW and E= 9 J . After the photodynamic therapy, a new microbiological sample was harvested. Subsequently, it was prepared the implant bed with conical burs and then the implant was placed. Patient was medicated with antibiotic after surgery. The microbiological analysis showed a significant reduction of Prevotella sp., Fusobacterium sp. and Streptococcus beta-hemoliticus. This finding suggests that photodynamic therapy is an alternative method to disinfect alveolus before implant placement. Therefore, this study highlights the need for future work in the area of photodynamic therapy to reduce bacteria without harming host tissue.