Efficacy of surgical periodontal treatment with and without photobiomodulation in the treatment of severe periodontitis: An evaluation of periodontal, microbiological, and cytokine levels

Aim: To compare the efficacy of surgical periodontal treatment (SPT) alone and PDT-assisted surgery in participants with severe periodontitis. Material and methods: The present clinical trial was completed by 64 participants (n = 32 each). The selection was made according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients in group A were treated with SPT only and participants in group B were treated with SPT adjunct to PDT. Microbiological assessment of P.Gingivalis; T. Forsythia and T.Denticola were evaluated using cultural analysis and periodontal parameters plaque score (PSc), bleeding on probing (BoP) periodontal depth (PD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) at baseline and post-treatment at 6 months and 12 months were performed. The gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected for the estimation of IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For intra-group comparison and post hoc correction, Student's t-test along with Bonferroni was used. For the difference between follow-ups, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) multiple rank tests were incorporated. Results: The mean age of participants in the SPT group was 55.25±4.6yrs. Whereas, participants treated with PDT adjunct to SPT were 54.88±3.6yrs. Periodontal parameters (BoP, PD, PSc, CAL) showed no significant difference at baseline. At 6 months and 12 months follow-up, a significant difference in all parameters (BoP, PD, PSc, and CAL) was found in participants treated with SPT alone and PDT adjunct to SPT (p<0.05). Inflammatory biomarkers at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups, a statistically significant difference in the level of biomarkers (IL-1β and TNF-α) were observed in both groups from baseline (p<0.05). However, at baseline, no significant difference was noted in both groups (p> 0.05). The microbiological assessment showed a significant drop in the bacterial count in participants treated with both regimes i.e., SPT alone and PDT adjunct to SPT. Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) adjunct to surgical periodontal treatment (SPT) in severe periodontitis improves microbiological and periodontal parameters and lowers the level of proinflammatory cytokines.