Chronic periodontitis (CP) is a highly prevalent oral inflammatory disease initiated by dysbiotic dental plaque biofilms. It causes progressive destruction of periodontal supporting tissues and poses a significant risk of tooth loss in adults worldwide. Conventional therapeutic strategies, such as scaling and root planing (SRP) and antibiotic therapy, are limited by issues like incomplete eradication of deep subgingival pathogens and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a minimally - invasive treatment modality that relies on photochemical reactions to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for bactericidal activity, has attracted substantial attention in periodontal treatment due to its broad - spectrum antibacterial effects, minimal invasiveness, and low risk of inducing drug resistance. In recent years, combining PDT with conventional periodontal treatments has emerged as a promising approach to improve therapeutic efficacy, becoming a focus of clinical and basic research. This review comprehensively summarizes the fundamental mechanisms of PDT, highlighting the synergistic interactions among photosensitizers (PS), light sources, and molecular oxygen. It systematically reviews the clinical progress of PDT - based combination therapies, including PDT combined with SRP, antibiotics, and surgical interventions, in the management of chronic periodontitis. Moreover, the key factors influencing PDT efficacy, such as PS characteristics, laser parameters, and patient - related factors, are thoroughly examined. Finally, the current challenges and future research directions of PDT combination therapy are discussed, aiming to provide a comprehensive theoretical basis for its clinical application and further development in periodontology.

Zhiwei Li. Research Progress of Photodynamic Therapy as Adjunctive Treatment for Chronic Periodontitis. International Journal of Frontiers in Medicine (2025), Vol. 7, Issue 4: 137-143. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFM.2025.070417.

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