Current Advances in the Use of Lasers in Periodontal Therapy: A Laser‐Assisted New Attachment Procedure Case Series

: The focus of periodontal surgical procedures has shifted over the past three decades from a philosophy based on resection (subtractive) to one of regeneration of lost tissues (additive). This shift has had particular significance in cases of advanced periodontitis. When a patient presents with severe attachment loss, regeneration cannot take place until the etiologic factors have been effectively managed or reversed and the disease progression arrested. Traditional surgical techniques have been successful in facilitating access and addressing the goal of “pocket elimination.” However, such surgical methods often result in unpleasant side effects, which can be painful and disfiguring. Clinicians have come to accept previous tissue breakdown as often irreversible. Additionally, the theory behind conventional pocket elimination was to produce an environment that promoted ongoing disease control by facilitating personal oral hygiene. At its best, traditional pocket surgery often falls short of achieving these goals and objectives. Additionally, conventional resective surgical techniques do not adequately address esthetic concerns, whereas surgical techniques, which are directed toward regeneration, have as their ideal outcome the preservation and/or restoration of lost periodontal tissues. Case Series: This case series presents six clinical cases illustrating favorable results using laser‐assisted new attachment procedure. In all cases, mobility and other manifestations of occlusal pathology were assessed. Occlusion was carefully addressed and managed using a combination of procedures. Conclusions: The results of recent research on a specific free‐running, pulsed neodymium‐doped:yttrium–aluminum–garnet (Nd:YAG) laser suggest that this laser provides a viable alternative to traditional periodontal surgery. Properly applying the laser has been shown to produce less bleeding, swelling, and discomfort. The Nd:YAG laser appears to address the cause of periodontal disease rather than the effects by specifically targeting identifiable periodontal pathogens. Regeneration of periodontal tissues is the gold standard by which dentists measure treatment effectiveness. Evidence has emerged that the Nd:YAG laser provides an enhanced method for achieving this elusive goal while eliminating many of the negative sequelae, which have been historically associated with conventional pocket elimination surgery. It should be noted that the information in the paper does not refer to all Nd:YAG lasers, but to one specific type of Nd:YAG laser. There are specific differences between individual YAG lasers, and this one is unique.