IMPACT OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY ON ORAL HEALTH IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING FIXED ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT: A RANDOMIZED...

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Orthodontics
• Biophotonics

Background:

• Patients with fixed orthodontic appliances (FOA) often experience increased gingival inflammation and dental plaque accumulation.
• Maintaining oral hygiene can be challenging with FOA, necessitating adjunctive therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic laser therapy (PDT) in improving gingival health and reducing dental plaque in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with FOA.
• To assess the effects of PDT at different time points during orthodontic treatment.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 patients with FOA, divided into a control group and a PDT group (methylene blue plus laser activation).
• Gingival Index (GI) and Dental Plaque Index (DPI) were used to assess oral conditions at baseline (T1) and after 30 days (T2).
• Statistical analysis included independent samples t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA.

Main Results:

• The PDT group showed a significant improvement in gingival condition, with a decrease in inflammation and an increase in normal gingival tissue from T1 to T2.
• Dental plaque levels also significantly decreased in the PDT group by T2.
• Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in both GI and DPI between the groups over time (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• Photodynamic laser therapy (PDT) with methylene blue is effective in improving gingival health and reducing dental plaque in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances.
• PDT can serve as a beneficial adjunct to conventional oral hygiene methods for managing gingivitis and plaque during orthodontic treatment.