[Adjunctive photodynamic therapy as a treatment for periodontal disease in equines]

ABSTRACT

Periodontal disease is a common condition, related to the entrapment of food in non-physiological diastemas in horses. Treatment consists of correction of the primary cause, cleansing and debridement of the gingival sulcus, called Conventional Therapy (CT). Often antimicrobials are requested due to the severity or pathogenicity of the agents. Adjuvant Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), has been studied for its potential bacterial combat, without causing bacterial resistance. The objective of this study was to analyze the use PDT with the experimentally induced periodontal disease in the incisor teeth of horses, and to compare with the CT. The CT did not result in clinical improvement, either in degrees or millimeters. The PDT was used in teeth with a greater depth of the periodontal pocket than the TC group, and even then, showed clinical improvement in only seven days, and more effective at 30, reaching the three millimeter value considered normal on average. The PDT presented the potential to be applied in the routine by the increase in the results without causing side effects.

Keywords:
dentistry; horse; periodontitis; periodontology; surgery