ROLE OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY AS AN ADJUNCT TO SCALING AND ROOT PLANING IN CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS: A PILOT RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by periodontal destruction and is the sixth complication of diabetes. Patients with periodontal disease and diabetes have hyperinflammatory immune cells that elevate proinflammatory cytokines resulting in periodontal destruction. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the use of photosensitizer dye, a low-level diode laser of a specific wavelength which gets activated and releases free radicals that are specific to target cells. Advantages of PDT are its specificity to cells, no lateral damage, and lack of development of resistant bacterial species. The aim of this study is to describe the role of PDT on periodontal status, immunological parameters and diabetic control of chronic periodontitis patients with type 2 diabetes when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing. The study is a pilot study with 15 patients on each arm; however,17 patients will be selected for loss to follow-up. Patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be selected and patients will be randomly divided using block randomization into test and control groups after taking consent. The test group will receive additional photodynamic therapy as an adjunct to scaling and root planing and parameters will be recorded like clinical (probing depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, plaque index), Hba1c levels, TNF-@ levels at baseline and after 3 months post-treatment.