Photodynamic Therapy: A Targeted Therapy in Periodontics

26 ABSTRACT Advances in research are provided by techniques that were forgotten for many decades and innovative procedures to clinical application. With the increase of microbial resistance and development of lighting devices with safe and accurate delivery of energy, today professionals can count on therapies to manage pathogens in different fields of dentistry, especially periodontics and peri-implantitis. When the therapeutic resources have been exhausted, other alternatives can be considered, as the antimicrobial photodynamic therapy. Photodynamic therapy is a novel noninvasive therapeutic approach with increased pathogen and site specificity. Photodynamic therapy involves use of photosensitizer that is activated by exposure to light of specific wavelength to form toxic oxygen species thereby causing localized photo damage and cell death. Application of photodynamic therapy in periodontics, such as pocket debridement, gingivitis, aggressive periodontitis continue to evolve into a mature clinical treatment modality, and is considered as a promising novel approach for eradicating pathogenic bacteria in periodontitis.