Photodynamic therapy as an aiding in the endodontic treatment: case report

ABSTRACT This article describes the application of Photodynamic Therapy as an aid to the endodontic treatment performed on a permanent tooth iatrogenically perforated and with pulp necrosis. After clinical and radiographic examination, the coronary access, curettage of the drilling area and mechanized preparation with the Reciproc System were performed. The drilling area was sealed with Mineral Trioxide Aggregate after prior alkalinization and decontamination by a calcium hydroxide buffer. After successive intracanal medication changes, the remission of the fistula, a clinical sign of endodontic infection, was not observed. Photodynamic therapy was then performed to reduce bacterial load in the root canal system, which resulted in fistula suppression. Then, it was possible to end the treatment with the obturation of the ducts by the Tagger Hybrid thermomechanical technique. After a year of proservation, the tooth presents no symptomatology and it is concluded that the Photodynamic Therapy was an effective solution in this case.