Indexed on: 05 Nov '08Published on: 05 Nov '08Published in: Journal of periodontology
The aim of this study was to evaluate histologically and histometrically the influence of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an adjuvant treatment on induced periodontitis in rats with diabetes.Two hundred forty rats were divided evenly into two groups: non-diabetic (ND; n = 120) and alloxan diabetic (D; n = 120). Periodontal disease was induced in both groups at the first mandibular molar. After 7 days, the ligature was removed, and all animals underwent scaling and root planing (SRP) and were divided according to the following treatments: irrigation with saline solution (SRP); irrigation with a phenothiazinium dye (100 microg/ml) (TBO); laser irradiation (660 nm, 24 J) (LLLT); and PDT (TBO and laser irradiation). Ten animals in each experimental group and treatment subgroup were euthanized at 7, 15, and 30 days. The histometric values were analyzed statistically (P <0.05).In the ND group, the animals treated by PDT showed less bone loss (0.33 +/- 0.05 mm(2), 0.35 +/- 0.06 mm(2), and 0.27 +/- 0.07 mm(2) at 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively; P <0.05) at all experimental periods than the SRP group (1.11 +/- 0.11 mm(2), 0.84 +/- 0.12 mm(2), and 0.97 +/- 0.13 mm(2) at 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively), the TBO group (0.51 +/- 0.12 mm(2), 0.70 +/- 0.13 mm(2), and 0.64 +/- 0.08 mm(2) at 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively), and the LLLT group (0.59 +/- 0.03 mm(2), 0.61 +/- 0.04 mm(2), and 0.60 +/- 0.03 mm(2) at 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively). In the D group, the animals treated by PDT showed less bone loss (0.29 +/- 0.03 mm(2), 0.24 +/- 0.02 mm(2), and 0.27 +/- 0.06 mm(2) at 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively; P <0.05) at all experimental periods than the SRP group (2.27 +/- 0.47 mm(2), 3.23 +/- 0.34 mm(2), and 2.82 +/- 0.75 mm(2) at 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively), the TBO group (0.51 +/- 0.15 mm(2), 0.44 +/- 0.07 mm(2), and 0.57 +/- 0.13 mm(2) at 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively), and the LLLT group (0.37 +/- 0.05 mm(2), 0.35 +/- 0.09 mm(2), and 0.39 +/- 0.12 mm(2) at 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively).PDT was a beneficial adjuvant treatment for periodontal diseases induced by bacterial plaque and systemically modified by diabetes mellitus.