Photodynamic therapy in Endodontics: Use of a supporting strategy to deal with endodontic infection

Gustavo Sivieri-Araujo, Ludmila Mota da Silva Santos, India Olinta de Azevedo Queiroz, Marcelo Tadahiro Wayama, Guilherme Hiroshi Yamanari, Eloi Dezan-Junior, Luciano Tavares Angelo Cintra, Joao Eduardo Gomes-Filho

Endodontic treatment is of paramount importance to abolish infection in teeth with pulp necrosis. The success of this type of treatment depends on efficient elimination of infection in the root canal system (RCS) and correct sealing carried out with root canal filling materials. Due to the anatomical complexity of the RCS, certain areas may be inaccessible to biomechanical preparation (BMP), therefore, the use of intracanal medication enhances the reduction in microorganisms (MO) and their toxic products inside the RCS. MO can still survive even with the scientific and technical adventancement of endodontic therapy, being primarily responsible for maintaining endodontic infection. Thus, new treatmenttments should be investigated. Alternative treatments have emerged in the health field with the advent of laser and LED devices, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), which is a set of physical, chemical and biological procedures that occur after the administration of a photosensitizing agent (PS) activated by visible light of a specific wavelength (laser or LED) to destroy the target cell or assist infection combat. In Endodontics, based on in vitro and in vivo studies, the use of PDT has proved to act as an adjunct, enhancing the disinfection of the RCS, besides being easy to be applied and not promoting microbial resistance. The aim of this review is to present the current status of photodynamic therapy in Endodontics.

Keywords: Endodontics. Endodontic infection. Photodynamic therapy.

How to cite: Sivieri-Araujo G, Santos LMS, Queiroz IOA, Wayama MT, Yamanari GH, Martins CM, Dezan-Júnior E, Cintra LTA, Gomes-Filho JE. Photody- namic therapy in Endodontics: Use of a supporting strategy to deal with endodon- tic infection. Dental Press Endod. 2013 May-Aug;3(2):52-8.

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