Objective: The goals of this investigation were to compare the effect of photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) with two different red lights on in vitro Streptococcus mutans biofilms, as well as to assess the temperature variances caused by PACT on human teeth. Methods: S. mutans biofilms (n = 3) were grown on hydroxyapatite disks, and the antimicrobial effect of PACT was evaluated using toluidine blue O (100 μg/mL) associated with Laserbeam® (LB 56.6 J/cm2) and LumaCare™ (LC -56.6, 158.5, 317.0, and 475.6 J/cm2). Pulpal temperature variances were analyzed using a digital thermocouple placed into the pulp chamber and positioned at the cement-enamel junction level of five teeth samples during irradiation times of 300, 600, and 900 sec for LB, and 22, 60, 120, and 180 sec for LC. The mean average temperature variance was calculated for each group. All data were analyzed through analysis of variance. Results: LB (900 sec) and LC (22 sec) induced similar reductions in the viability of microorganisms. LB did not cause statistically significant increase of temperature, regardless of experimental time, and LC caused temperature increase within the safe spectrum up to 60 sec. Conclusions: PACT seems to be a minimal invasive approach for reducing the viability of cariogenic bacteria. Thus, when applied in vitro for times equal or inferior to 900 and 60 sec for LB and LC, respectively, these light sources might be considered harmless to tooth structures.
Keywords: anti-infective agents; biofilms; dental pulp cavity; photochemotherapy; temperature.