Assistant Professor Faculdade de Odontologia São Leopoldo Mandic Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Participants should be aware of the following financial/non-financial relationships:
Marcelo Coelho, D.D.S.; M.S.c, PhD: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
Root canal treatment aims the healing or prevention of apical periodontitis. Currently, root canal instrumentation under irrigation with sodium hypochlorite is the most common technique applied in Endodontics. Despite the use of irrigation and different types of activation, remaining bacteria are still a drawback in root canal instrumentation. These remnants might promote either postoperative pain or lead to poorer outcomes. Though, adjunct protocols have been proposed to enhance the effects of current root canal instrumentation. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is one of the protocols suggested to diminish bacterial load of root canals after root canal instrumentation. The principles of PDT relies on the use of a Photosensitizer (PS) that are placed inside the root canal. Then, the PS is activated by a lightsource with a specific wavelength. This activation releases singlet oxygen that contributes for eliminating the remaining bacteria. The clinical efficacy of PDT isl in the initial stages. This presentation aims to discuss in an unbiased and non-marketing centered the advantages and disadvantages of PDT in endodontics.
Learning Objectives:
List the limitations of current root canal disinfection.
Describe the principles of photodynamic therapy and evaluate its limitations.
Discuss the different protocols currently available for PDT application.
