Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of class II furcation: a randomized controlled clinical trial

To investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as adjunct to mechanical therapy in furcations.

A double-blind, parallel, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in subjects presenting class II furcations. The subjects were randomly allocated to a test (PDT; n = 16) or control group (non-activated laser/only photosensitizer; n = 21). At baseline, 3 and 6 months, clinical, microbiological and cytokine pattern evaluation was performed. Clinical attachment level was defined as the primary outcome variable.

Clinical parameters improved after both therapies (p < 0.05) with no differences between groups at any time point (p > 0.05). At 6 months, real-time PCR evaluation showed a decrease in Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia only in the PDT group (p < 0.05) with no inter-group differences. Regarding cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased in both groups at 6 months. GM-CSF, IL-8, IL-1β and IL-6 levels decreased only in the PDT group after 3 months (p < 0.05). At 3 months, inter-group analyses showed that GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were lower in the PDT group. At 6 months, lower IL-1β levels were also observed in the PDT group (p < 0.05).

Photodynamic therapy did not promote clinical benefits for class II furcations; however, advantages in local levels of cytokines and a reduction in periodontopathogens were demonstrated.