Photodynamic and Tissue Tolerable Plasma Therapies as Alternatives to Antimicrobials to Control Pathogenic Biofilms

The need for novel antimicrobial techniques has become critical for a number of reasons, including the emergence of resistant strains because of excessive prescription and misuse of antibiotics. The mouth is colonized by a large number of microorganisms. When these microorganisms are organized as biofilms they can contribute to chronic diseases in the human population, such as dental caries, candidiasis, and periodontal disease. Hence, alternative antimicrobial approaches have risen to facilitate the treatment of these diseases. As novel therapies, photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy and tissue-tolerable plasma are promising methods that offer the possibility of microbial decontamination with decreased odds for the traditional side effects. Thus, the present review aims to offer an overview and future directions of these new approaches to control pathogenic oral biofilms.