The Application of Photothermal Therapy for the Treatment of Periimplantitis: A Literature Review

Aims: The aim of this study is to review the existing literature and evaluate the clinical performance of the EmunDo technique.

Methodology: The present study was designed as a literature review of the existing publications. The search strategy included an electronic search of studies published until February 2022 and a hand search by two different investigators. Search terms were a combination of the appropriate Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and free-text words in simple or multiple conjunctions.

Results: Of the 34 full-text articles examined, only 3 met all the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Photodynamic therapy with toluidine blue (630nm) and photothermal therapy (EmunDo) with infracyanine green resulted in similar rates of A. actinomycetemcomitans decrease while the use of Er:YAG laser resulted in the smallest reduction of the microbial population. No alteration on the surface of the implants was observed. The EmunDo protocol resulted in significant higher reduction of A. Actinomycetemcomitans, T. Forsythia, P. Gingivalis.

Conclusion: EmunDo treatment protocol seems to have favorable results in the microbial reduction in cases of peri-implantitis, especially in the treatment of early stages. However, due to the limitations of the existing literature, further research is required for establishing the treatment protocol and exceeding the current restrictions.