Abstract

The Photodynamic Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (PACT) has shown a promising alternative for oral disinfection. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate in situ the antimicrobial effect of photodynamic therapy over Streptococcus mutans biofilm by the use of different photosenstizers. Eighteen (n=18) pacients were randomly selected and used one removable palatine device that contained six enamel/dentine specimens of 5×5×2 mm. These patients used these devices during four days, after that the biofilm created over the specimens were treated using curcumine and Photogem^® solutions associated with a light-emitting diode under energy density of 45J/cm ². The effect of PACT treatments was evaluated by viability in colonyforming units per milliliter (CFU mL⁻¹). Although, significant reductions in the bacterial count were observed for PACT with Photogem^® photosensitizer (p=0.02), the results of this study suggests an antimicrobial effect of photodynamic therapy over biofilms by the use of curcumine (1.500µg/mL) and Photogem^® (1.000µg/mL) solutions followed by LED system irradiation (λ=450± and 630±5nm).

© 2012 Optical Society of America