Adjunctive effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy to nonsurgical periodontal treatment in smokers: a randomized clinical trial

The aim of this study was to investigate the adjunctive effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) to scaling and root planing (SRP) in smokers with chronic periodontitis. Twenty subjects had two contralateral teeth randomly assigned to receive SRP (SRP group) or SRP + a single episode of aPDT (SRP + aPDT group), with a diode laser and a phenothiazine photosensitizer. Plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and gingival recession were recorded, and gingival crevicular fluid was collected for assay of IL-1β and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 levels. There was a significant PD reduction (SRP 1.81 ± 0.52 mm/SRP + aPDT 1.58 ± 1.28 mm; p