Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as an important adjunctive approach in periapical healing after endodontic retreatment: a case report

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has been suggested as a complementary approach to endodontic treatment as it promoted greater microbial reduction. This case report describes the effectiveness of aPDT in bacterial reduction and in clinical management in a lower molar presenting previous poorly conducted endodontic treatment, post-treatment apical periodontitis and coronal-root perforation. A 20-year-old female patient with radiographic evidence of post-treatment apical periodontitis and coronal-root perforation was submitted to endodontic retreatment. In addition to the endodontic procedures, aPDT with 0.05% methylene blue was used in a 3-minutes irradiation period. A Ga-Al-Ar diode laser attached to an optical fiber with a diameter of 365 μm was applied by using a 90 s irradiation time, 100 mW of power and 9 J of energy. In conclusion, aPDT associated with endodontic treatment performed with technological devices represents a positive impact in periapical tissues healing in case of teeth with post-treatment apical periodontitis a furcation perforation.