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Comparison of Nd:YAG Laser Versus Scaling and Root Planing in Periodontal Therapy
Author(s) -
Liu CheingMeei,
Hou LeinTuan,
Wong ManYing,
Lan Wan–Hong
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.1999.70.11.1276
Subject(s) - scaling and root planing , medicine , dentistry , periodontitis , chronic periodontitis , quadrant (abdomen) , clinical attachment loss , gingival and periodontal pocket , surgery
Background: The Nd:YAG laser has recently been used in the treatment of periodontal disease. However, although a clinical reduction of probing depth and gingival inflammation to this new approach has been reported, it has not been fully evaluated. Interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β), a potent stimulator of bone resorption, has been identified in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), which is closely associated with periodontal destruction. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Nd:YAG laser treatment versus scaling/root planing (SRP) treatment on crevicular IL‐1β levels in 52 sampled sites obtained from 8 periodontitis patients Methods: One or 2 periodontitis‐affected sites with a 4 to 6 mm probing depth and horizontal bone loss from 3 adjacent single‐root teeth in each of 4 separate quadrants were selected from patients for clinical documentation and IL‐1β assay. Sampling site(s) from each diseased quadrant was randomly assigned to one of the following groups: 1) subgingival laser treatment (20 pps, 150 mJ) only; 2) SRP only; 3) laser treatment first, followed by SRP 6 weeks later; or 4) SRP first, followed by laser therapy 6 weeks later. The GCF was collected and the amount of IL‐1β was assayed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical parameters and GCF were measured at baseline and biweekly after therapy for 12 weeks. Results: An obvious clinical improvement (marked decrease in the number of diseased sites with gingival index ≥2) and reduction of crevicular IL‐1β were found in all groups. The level of IL‐1β was significantly lower in the SRP group ( P = 0.035) than in the laser therapy group for the duration of the 12 weeks. The laser combined SRP therapy group showed a further reduction of IL‐1β (6 to 12 weeks after treatment) than either laser therapy alone or SRP combined laser therapy. Conclusions: Our data suggest that laser therapy appeared to be less effective than traditional SRP treatment. Of the 4 treatment modalities, inclusion of SRP was found to have a superior IL‐1β response, when compared to other therapies without it. In addition, no additional benefit was found when laser treatment was used secondary to traditional SRP therapy. J Periodontol 1999;70:1276‐1282.