Premium
Treatment of periodontal pockets with a diode laser
Author(s) -
Moritz Andreas,
Schoop Ulrich,
Goharkhay Kawe,
Schauer Petra,
Doertbudak Orhun,
Wernisch Johann,
Sperr Wolfgang
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1998)22:5<302::aid-lsm7>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - prevotella intermedia , medicine , gingival and periodontal pocket , dentistry , actinobacillus , laser , bleeding on probing , laser therapy , porphyromonas gingivalis , quadrant (abdomen) , scaling and root planing , chlorhexidine , periodontitis , laser treatment , chronic periodontitis , surgery , optics , physics
Background and Objective The aim of this study is to examine the long‐term effect of diode laser therapy on periodontal pockets with regard to its bactericidal abilities and the improvement of periodontal condition. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Fifty patients were randomly subdivided into two groups (laser‐group and control‐group) and microbiologic samples were collected. There have been six appointments for 6 months following an exact treatment scheme. After evaluating periodontal indices (bleeding on probing, Quigley‐Hein) including pocket depths and instruction of patients in oral hygiene and scaling therapy of all patients, the deepest pockets of each quadrant of the laser‐group's patients were microbiologically examined. Afterwards, all teeth were treated with the diode laser. The control‐group received the same treatment but instead of laser therapy were rinsed with H 2 O 2 . Each appointment also included a hygienic check‐up. After 6 months the final values of the periodontal indices and further microbiologic samples were measured. The total bacterial count as well as specific bacteria, such as Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, were assessed semiquantitatively. Results The bacterial reduction with diode laser therapy was significantly better than in the control group. The index of bleeding on probing improved in 96.9% in the laser‐group, whereas only 66.7% in the control group. Pocket depths could be more reduced in the laser group than in the control group. Conclusion The diode laser reveals a bactericidal effect and helps to reduce inflammation in the periodontal pockets in addition to scaling. The diode laser therapy, in combination with scaling, supports healing of the periodontal pockets through eliminating bacteria. Lasers Surg. Med. 22:302–311, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.