Effects of combined basic periodontal treatment and photodynamic therapy on subgingival plaque and inflammatory factors in patients with severe periodontitis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of basic periodontal treatment combined with photodynamic therapy on subgingival plaque and inflammatory factors in patients diagnosed with severe periodontitis. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 116 patients with severe periodontitis who were admitted to our hospital between January 2023 and January 2025. Participants were divided into Group A ( n = 58, periodontal basic treatment) and Group B ( n = 58, periodontal basic treatment + photodynamic therapy) based on the treatment modality. Clinical efficacy, periodontal status before treatment and 6 months post-treatment, subgingival plaque, levels of inflammatory factors in gingival crevicular fluid, bone metabolism indicators, oral-related quality of life, and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. Results The total effective rate of treatment in group B was higher than that in group A ( P < 0.05). After 6 months of treatment, the PD, AL, SBI, and PLI levels in group B were lower than those in group A ( P < 0.05). The total bacterial load of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), P revotella intermedia (Pi), and plaque in Group B was lower than that in Group A ( P < 0.05). The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the gingival crevicular fluid of group B were lower than those of group A ( P < 0.05). The levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), C-terminal peptide of type I collagen (CTX), and osteoclast differentiation factor (RANKL) in group B were lower than those in group A, whereas the level of osteoprotegerin (OPG) was higher than that in group A ( P < 0.05). The Oral Health Impact Scale-14 (OHIP-14) score in group B was lower than in group A ( P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the incidence of complications between the two groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusion The combination of basic periodontal treatment and photodynamic therapy is effective in treating severe periodontitis. It can effectively improve patients’ periodontal conditions, reduce subgingival plaque and gingival inflammation, improve oral bone metabolism, enhance oral-related quality of life, and is well tolerated.
Source: Frontiers in Medicine
Authors: Xue Chen, Yujia Gu, Mei Tian, Huixin Yang, Ge Hu, Qifeng Geng
Institution: Nanjing University
Language: English
Subfield: Periodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7221714714