Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial effect of indocyanine green and methylene blue dye as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in patients with moderate periodontitis - a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

INTRODUCTION In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) with the help of lasers has been used to decontaminate the pocket environment as it is a minimally invasive treatment that activates the immune system, has low systemic toxicity, and possesses high bactericidal properties. Combining lasers and photosensitizing agents can result in photo destruction of target cells due to cytotoxic effect in the presence of oxygen. The photokilling rate is highly related to interaction of reactive oxygen species produced, ability of photosensitizers in incorporating into microorganisms and light devices/microorganism type. While methylene blue (MB) and indocyanine green (ICG) are present in the dental practice as photosensitizers there is an acute paucity of literature comparing their efficacy in terms of improvement of clinical parameters and suppression of periodontal pathogens. AIM To assess and compare the antimicrobial effects of indocyanine green and methylene blue dye as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in patients with moderate periodontitis