Can Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT)Enhance the Endodontic Treatment?
The study aimed to evaluate scientific literature on using different photosensitizers (PSs) for bacterial reduction in root canal treatment, particularly against Enterococcus faecalis. Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched with relevant keywords from 2000 to 2015. It was concluded that antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) should be used alongside conventional mechanical debridement and irrigants for effective bacterial elimination. However, the success rate of aPDT depends on factors like the type of PS, laser output power, irradiation time, pre-irradiation time, and type of tips used.