Introduction
periodontitis
PERIODONTITIS, BACTERIAL RESISTANCE, PCT, ADVERSE EFFECTS
The main objective of periodontal therapy is to prevent periodontitis by suppressing or eliminating periodontopathogenic bacteria. Even though scaling and root planing (SRP) and anti-infective chemotherapeutics are the conventional instruments used to treat periodontitis, they have their own drawbacks, such as causing systemic adverse effects and the development of bacterial resistance.Antimicrobial photocatalysis (PCT) is a process in which semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) are irradiated with a light source, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) in order to kill various types of microorganisms.Zinc oxide (ZnO), an antibacterial metal oxide, is widely used in Dentistry for indirect pulp capping and periodontal dressings, and as a temporary filling material or root canal sealer. ZnO is an n-type semiconductor metal oxide with a wide band-gap of 3.37ev and is considered a GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) substance by the US-FDA.
