This systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in the treatment of periodontitis in type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and to provide better treatment for patients with T2DM complicated with periodontitis.

The PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, and Wanfang databases were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RevMan 5.3 was applied for the meta-analysis, and a systematic evaluation was conducted.

A total of 8 RCTs were included. The results showed that compared to simple subgingival scaling and root planing (SRP), aPDT assisted SRP had a better effect on improving the probing depth (PD) at 3 months after treatment, The difference was statistically significant [WMD＝-0.32, 95%CI(-0.45, -0.2), P < 0.05], but 6 months after treatment, there was no significant difference in the two groups [WMD＝-0.15, 95%CI(-0.40, 0.10), P＝0.23]. During the 6-month follow-up period, there were no significant differences in the clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP) or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) between the two groups (P > 0.05).

aPDT-assisted periodontal nonsurgical treatment in T2DM patients can improve PD in the short term but has no significant effect on the improvement of CAL, BOP and HbA1c.