The effect of antibacterial photodynamic therapy on dental biofilm in children

Aim was to evaluate the effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy on dental biofilm properties at high caries risk children. Material and methods. The study included 636 children with severe diseases of the central nervous system and high caries risk caused by increased activity of cariogenic dental biofilm. Prediction of dental caries and the complex assessment of caries risk was carried out through Cariogram software. The sensitivity of microbial strains from dental biofilm was studied through APDT action by determining the total number of bacteria in 1 g of dental biofilm (TNB/g). Identification of bacteria from samples of dental biofilm was realized using GPI card of automatically system Vitek 2. Results. The obtained data have shown that APDT application followed by administration of probiotics, influences the properties of cariogenic dental biofilm in children: by reducing with 1.07 log 10 CFU/g (t=12.72, p<0.001) of TNB/g, microbial modification of dental biofilm picture characterized by the decrease number of Streptococcus mutans 4.90 times (t=9.68, p<0.001) and 2.80 times of Streptococcus sobrinus (t=4.87, p<0.001) in 1 g of dental biofilm simultaneously with the grouth of Streptococcus salivarius 2.49 times (t=8.38, p<0.001) and 5.25 times the Streptococcus sanguinis (t=-3.18, p<0.01), reduction of aggressive combination of bacteria and acid producing – the dental’s biofilm pH increased 1.14 times (t=-19.36, p<0.001). This has increased chances of avoiding the emergence of new carious cavities 1.79 times (t=-39.39, p<0.001) in children with initially high and extreme caries risk. Conclusions. APDT application offers new opportunities in developing effective methods to prevent dental caries in high caries risk children, resulted from increased activity of cariogenic dental biofilm.