Clinical and Microbiological Outcomes of Topical Aloe Vera Gel vs. Photochemotherapy as an Adjunct to Non-surgical Periodontal Treatment in Periodontitis

Abstract

The present clinical trial aimed to assess the effectiveness of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy versus Aloe vera gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing on periodontal and microbial outcomes in patients with periodontitis. Eligible patients undergoing nonsurgical periodontal treatment were divided into 3 groups: group 1: antimicrobial photodynamic therapy; group 2: Aloe vera gel application; and group 3: scaling and root planing only. Clinical periodontal variables included the assessment of plaque scores, bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment level gain. Plaque samples were collected to estimate microbial counts of Tannerella forsythia (T. forsythia) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). All measurements were recorded at baseline, 3 mo, and 6 mo. Statistical analysis of the given data was performed using the chi-squared test and ANOVA for clinical periodontal and microbiological data. Eighty-seven patients completed the trial. Bleeding on probing showed a significant reduction in group 2 compared with the other groups (p < 0.001). Group 1 showed a statistically significant reduction in probing depth and gain in clinical attachment level when compared to group 2 and group 3 (p < 0.05). Group 1 showed a statistically significant reduction in the counts of T. forsythia and P. gingivalis over a period of 3 mo (p < 0.05). The reduction was seen for T. forsythia only following 6 mo (p < 0.05). Group 2 showed a significant reduction for only T. forsythia at 3 mo (p < 0.05). Both antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and Aloe vera gel helped in reducing periodontal inflammation. Aloe vera gel showed additional benefit in reducing bleeding scores, while antimicrobial photodynamic therapy showed additional enhanced activity against periodontal pathogens and periodontal attachment level gain.