Current treatment strategies for peri-implant diseases with antimicrobial photodynamic therapy using the HELBO system

Because of microbiological contamination, peri-implant infection still provides a challenge for every dentist working with implants. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) has established itself as an adjuvant noninvasive alternative to traditional strategies with the use of antibiotics and biocides for effective biofilm management. The incubation of the photosensitizer penetrates the biofilm, especially at the nonvital, nonvascularized, contaminated implant surface, and thus enables the possibility of lethal lipid oxidation of the cell walls of the bacteria after laser irradiation. This minimally invasive decontamination process works with low-level lasers and can be applied for prevention as well as for treatment of initial and severe peri-implantitis. In reconstructive peri-implantitis therapy, the most stable results were observed when combining PDT with defect augmentation with autologous bone chips. In addition to the antimicrobial effect, a photobiological effect takes place, so that the wound healing is supported after the surgical procedure