ANTIMICROBIAL PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY IN PERIODONTICS

Periodontitis and peri-implantitis are inflammatory diseases characterized by the destruction of periodontal and peri-implant tissues respectively primarily driven by microbial dysbiosis. Conventional treatments often involve mechanical debridement supplemented with antibiotics but concerns over antibiotic resistance have prompted exploration into alternative therapies such as antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT).aPDT involves the use of a photosensitizer typically a dye or a light-activated compound which when exposed to a specific wavelength of light produces reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS cause damage to bacterial cell membranes proteins and DNA leading to microbial death.