Premium
Er: YAG laser in the treatment of periodontal sites with recurring chronic inflammation: a 12‐month randomized, controlled clinical trial
Author(s) -
KrohnDale Ivar,
Bøe Olav E.,
Enersen Morten,
Leknes Knut N.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.2012.01912.x
Subject(s) - medicine , debridement (dental) , curette , dentistry , er:yag laser , bleeding on probing , randomized controlled trial , gingival inflammation , gingival and periodontal pocket , peri implantitis , clinical endpoint , periodontitis , surgery , laser , gingivitis , implant , physics , optics
Aim The objective of this randomized, controlled clinical trial was to compare the clinical and microbiological effects of pocket debridement using erbium‐doped: yttrium, aluminium and garnet (Er: YAG ) laser with conventional debridement in maintenance patients. Material & Methods Fifteen patients, all smokers, having at least four teeth with residual probing depth ( PD ) ≥5 mm were recruited. Two pockets in two jaw quadrants were randomly assigned to subgingival debridement using an Er: YAG laser (test) or ultrasonic scaler/curette (control) at 3‐month intervals. Relative attachment level ( RAL ), PD , bleeding on probing and dental plaque were recorded at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. Microbiological subgingival samples were taken at the same time points and analysed using a checkerboard DNA ‐ DNA hybridization technique. Results A significant decrease in PD took place in both treatments from baseline to 12 months ( p < 0.01). In the control, the mean initial PD decreased from 5.4 to 4.0 mm at 12 months. For the test, a similar decrease occurred. No significant between‐treatment differences were shown at any time point. The mean RAL showed no overall significant inter‐ or intra‐treatment differences ( p > 0.05). No significant between‐treatment differences were observed in subgingival microbiological composition or total pathogens. Conclusion The results failed to support that an Er: YAG laser may be superior to conventional debridement in the treatment of smokers with recurring chronic inflammation. This appears to be the first time that repeated Er‐ YAG laser instrumentation has been compared with mechanical instrumentation of periodontal sites with recurring chronic inflammation over a clinically relevant time period.