Exploring the Antimicrobial and Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Technology in Pediatric Endodontics: An In Vivo Study

Pediatric dentistry continually seeks effective and efficient treatments for young patients, especially within pediatric endodontics, where cooperation can often be challenging. This in vivo study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel photodynamic therapy (PDT) protocol using a 5-aminolevul...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Luca De Gregoriis, Tatiane Cristina Dotta, Morena Petrini, Silvia Di Lodovico, Loredana D’Ercole, Simonetta D’Ercole, Domenico Tripodi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6491
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850157060553965568
author Luca De Gregoriis
Tatiane Cristina Dotta
Morena Petrini
Silvia Di Lodovico
Loredana D’Ercole
Simonetta D’Ercole
Domenico Tripodi
author_facet Luca De Gregoriis
Tatiane Cristina Dotta
Morena Petrini
Silvia Di Lodovico
Loredana D’Ercole
Simonetta D’Ercole
Domenico Tripodi
author_sort Luca De Gregoriis
collection DOAJ
description Pediatric dentistry continually seeks effective and efficient treatments for young patients, especially within pediatric endodontics, where cooperation can often be challenging. This in vivo study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel photodynamic therapy (PDT) protocol using a 5-aminolevulinic acid gel (Aladent, ALAD) combined with light irradiation during the endodontic treatment of primary teeth. This study included primary teeth requiring root canal therapy due to carious lesions or trauma, with clinical symptoms suggesting irreversible pulpitis or acute apical periodontitis. Following local anesthesia and isolation with a rubber dam, carious lesions were excavated, and access to the pulp chamber was established. Canal preparation included determining the working length and using a sequence of k-files. Afterward, ALAD gel was applied, and the patients were divided into two groups based on their visit duration (Group A with a single visit, Group B returning after one week). Microbiological analysis was conducted on the samples taken before and after treatment. The findings demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy of the PDT protocol in reducing root canal bacterial load, suggesting ALAD-based PDT may serve as an alternative to traditional endodontic treatment in cases where retaining primary teeth is essential for orthodontic or strategic reasons. Clinically, improvement in symptoms and fistula resolution were observed. Treatment time, patient compliance, and protocol safety in pediatric applications are also discussed, highlighting the protocol’s potential to enhance clinical outcomes in pediatric endodontics.
format Article
id doaj-art-c1b8aae961c84d748f23a78adcbf9a35
institution OA Journals
issn 2076-3417
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-c1b8aae961c84d748f23a78adcbf9a352025-08-20T02:24:17ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-06-011512649110.3390/app15126491Exploring the Antimicrobial and Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Technology in Pediatric Endodontics: An In Vivo StudyLuca De Gregoriis0Tatiane Cristina Dotta1Morena Petrini2Silvia Di Lodovico3Loredana D’Ercole4Simonetta D’Ercole5Domenico Tripodi6Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti–Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, Ribeirão Preto School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 14040-904, BrazilDepartment of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti–Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti–Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Medical Physics, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti–Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti–Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyPediatric dentistry continually seeks effective and efficient treatments for young patients, especially within pediatric endodontics, where cooperation can often be challenging. This in vivo study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel photodynamic therapy (PDT) protocol using a 5-aminolevulinic acid gel (Aladent, ALAD) combined with light irradiation during the endodontic treatment of primary teeth. This study included primary teeth requiring root canal therapy due to carious lesions or trauma, with clinical symptoms suggesting irreversible pulpitis or acute apical periodontitis. Following local anesthesia and isolation with a rubber dam, carious lesions were excavated, and access to the pulp chamber was established. Canal preparation included determining the working length and using a sequence of k-files. Afterward, ALAD gel was applied, and the patients were divided into two groups based on their visit duration (Group A with a single visit, Group B returning after one week). Microbiological analysis was conducted on the samples taken before and after treatment. The findings demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy of the PDT protocol in reducing root canal bacterial load, suggesting ALAD-based PDT may serve as an alternative to traditional endodontic treatment in cases where retaining primary teeth is essential for orthodontic or strategic reasons. Clinically, improvement in symptoms and fistula resolution were observed. Treatment time, patient compliance, and protocol safety in pediatric applications are also discussed, highlighting the protocol’s potential to enhance clinical outcomes in pediatric endodontics.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6491pediatric dentistryendodonticsALAD gel<i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>light irradiationantibacterial therapy
spellingShingle Luca De Gregoriis
Tatiane Cristina Dotta
Morena Petrini
Silvia Di Lodovico
Loredana D’Ercole
Simonetta D’Ercole
Domenico Tripodi
Exploring the Antimicrobial and Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Technology in Pediatric Endodontics: An In Vivo Study
Applied Sciences
pediatric dentistry
endodontics
ALAD gel
<i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>
light irradiation
antibacterial therapy
title Exploring the Antimicrobial and Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Technology in Pediatric Endodontics: An In Vivo Study
title_full Exploring the Antimicrobial and Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Technology in Pediatric Endodontics: An In Vivo Study
title_fullStr Exploring the Antimicrobial and Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Technology in Pediatric Endodontics: An In Vivo Study
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Antimicrobial and Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Technology in Pediatric Endodontics: An In Vivo Study
title_short Exploring the Antimicrobial and Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Technology in Pediatric Endodontics: An In Vivo Study
title_sort exploring the antimicrobial and clinical efficacy of a novel technology in pediatric endodontics an in vivo study
topic pediatric dentistry
endodontics
ALAD gel
<i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>
light irradiation
antibacterial therapy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/12/6491
work_keys_str_mv AT lucadegregoriis exploringtheantimicrobialandclinicalefficacyofanoveltechnologyinpediatricendodonticsaninvivostudy
AT tatianecristinadotta exploringtheantimicrobialandclinicalefficacyofanoveltechnologyinpediatricendodonticsaninvivostudy
AT morenapetrini exploringtheantimicrobialandclinicalefficacyofanoveltechnologyinpediatricendodonticsaninvivostudy
AT silviadilodovico exploringtheantimicrobialandclinicalefficacyofanoveltechnologyinpediatricendodonticsaninvivostudy
AT loredanadercole exploringtheantimicrobialandclinicalefficacyofanoveltechnologyinpediatricendodonticsaninvivostudy
AT simonettadercole exploringtheantimicrobialandclinicalefficacyofanoveltechnologyinpediatricendodonticsaninvivostudy
AT domenicotripodi exploringtheantimicrobialandclinicalefficacyofanoveltechnologyinpediatricendodonticsaninvivostudy