Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in the treatment of experimentally induced dental alveolitis in animals

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: Alveolar repair in infected areas still lacks further studies, especially regarding adjuvant or alternative therapies. Objective: This study aimed to histologically analyze the repair process in infected wounds after tooth extraction treated with photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy alone or in combination with a photosensitizer (PS) in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). Material and method: Forty-eight rats underwent extraction of the right upper incisor and subsequently received experimental alveolitis induction. They were then randomly divided into 4 groups (n=12) that received the following treatments: Control group (C), no intra- or extra-alveolar treatment; PS group, alveolar irrigation with methylene blue photosensitizer (MB, 100 µg/mL); PBM group, the alveoli were subjected to PBM therapy mediated with a low-power laser (685nm, 0.05W, 240s, 12J); aPDT Group: The treatment was similar to that of the PS group, with a pre-irradiation time of 60 seconds, followed immediately by laser irradiation, under conditions similar to those of the PBM group. The animals were euthanized post-operatively on days 7, 15, 21, and 28. Result: The wounds in group C showed a delay in the chronology of alveolar repair, PS group showed an improved initial inflammatory response compared to the control group. The animals treated with PBM and aPDT showed faster bone repair than those in group C. Conclusion: It is concluded that there was a delay in the alveolar repair process; that the isolated use of the PS minimized the alveolitis deleterious effects on bone repair; those photonic therapies benefited alveolar repair, especially when aPDT was used.