Generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) is a distinct type of periodontal disease characterized by rapid loss of attachment and alveolar bone occuring in young individuals. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was introduced in periodontology as an adjunctive approach to non-surgical periodontal treatment (NPT) in periodontitis patients. In this trial, it was aimed that to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effects of adjunctive PDT to NPT in patients with GAgP. In this prospective controlled clinical study, 24 systemically healthy, non-smoking subjects with GAgP were enrolled. Subjects were randomly assigned to a control group (n=12) treated with NPT only or to a test group (n=12) treated with NPT and PDT. Plaque index, sulcus bleeding index (SBI), pocket depth (PD), relative attachment level, gingival recession, mobility were recorded at baseline and on day 63. Microbiological samples were obtained fom the sites with PD ≥5 mm at the same time points and evaluated for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia and Treponema denticola using micro-IDent test.

Inclusion Criteria:

• systemically healthy,
• non-smoker
• not received any periodontal treatment within the last 6 months
• no antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs or any other medication taken within the last 6 months
• consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• any systemic disease (i.e. diabetes mellitus, HIV infection) that might influence the prognosis of periodontal disease and outcome of the treatment
• any medical condition that required antibiotic prophylaxis before the treatment
• smoking
• pregnancy and lactation
• ingestion of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs or any other medication during study period
• any physical limitations or restrictions that might preclude normal oral hygiene procedures