Photodynamic therapy in the treatment of class II furcation: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Aim To investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as adjunct to mechanical therapy in furcations. Materials and Methods A double‐blind, parallel, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in subjects presenting class II furcations. The subjects were randomly allocated to a test (PDT; n  = 16) or control group (non‐activated laser/only photosensitizer; n  = 21). At baseline, 3 and 6 months, clinical, microbiological and cytokine pattern evaluation was performed. Clinical attachment level was defined as the primary outcome variable. Results Clinical parameters improved after both therapies ( p  < 0.05) with no differences between groups at any time point ( p  > 0.05). At 6 months, real‐time PCR evaluation showed a decrease in Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia only in the PDT group ( p  < 0.05) with no inter‐group differences. Regarding cytokines, IL‐4 and IL‐10 levels increased in both groups at 6 months. GM‐CSF, IL‐8, IL‐1β and IL‐6 levels decreased only in the PDT group after 3 months ( p  < 0.05). At 3 months, inter‐group analyses showed that GM‐CSF, IFN‐γ, IL‐6 and IL‐8 levels were lower in the PDT group. At 6 months, lower IL‐1β levels were also observed in the PDT group ( p  < 0.05). Conclusion Photodynamic therapy did not promote clinical benefits for class II furcations; however, advantages in local levels of cytokines and a reduction in periodontopathogens were demonstrated.