Clinical evaluation of photodynamic therapy as an adjunct for scaling and root planing in patients with chronic periodontitis: A systematic review with meta-analyses

Abstract

Aim: This systematic review with meta-analyses aimed to compare clinical evaluation of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an adjunct for scaling and root planing (SRP) in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Materials and methods: An electronic literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) until July 2019 were considered. Probing pocket depth (PPD), Clinical attachment loss (CAL), Plaque index (PI), Bleeding on probing (BOP) were the outcome parameters. Results: Difference in mean PPD in PDT as compared to SRP group in all studies combined was -0.14 for 3 month and -0.15 for 6 months. Difference in mean CAL in PDT as compared to SRP group in all studies combined was -0.18 for 3 months and -0.36 for 6 months. Difference in mean PI score in PDT as compared to SRP group was -0.21 for 3 month and -0.12 for 6 months. Difference in mean BOP score in PDT as compared to SRP group in all studies combined was -0.42 for 3 months. Conclusion: The present systematic review with meta-analyses indicates that the photodynamic therapy (PDT) is recommended as an adjunctive therapy to scaling and root planing (SRP) for localized periodontitis, especially during the maintenance phase, to complete and increase the efficiency of non-surgical treatments. Clinical Relevance: SRP in combination with PDT seems to be effective and is therefore suitable as an adjuvant therapy to the mechanical conditioning of the periodontal pockets in patients with chronic periodontal disease.