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Commentary: Is There Clinical Benefit From Using a Diode or Neodymium:Yttrium‐Aluminum‐Garnet Laser in the Treatment of Periodontitis?
Author(s) -
Cobb Charles M.
Publication year - 2016
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.2016.160134
Subject(s) - dentistry , scaling and root planing , medicine , neodymium , molar , yttrium , laser , periodontitis , orthodontics , chronic periodontitis , materials science , optics , metallurgy , physics , oxide
Despite a quarter of a century of laser research, there is a persistent debate regarding the efficacy of dental lasers in the treatment of periodontitis or periodontal maintenance therapy. There are many claims and much hyperbole surrounding the use of lasers, either as a monotherapy or adjunctive to scaling and root planing, to treat periodontitis. There is little evidence that using a diode or neodymium:yttrium‐aluminum‐garnet laser adds clinical value over and above conventional non‐surgical or surgical periodontal treatment. There is a significant need for better designed human clinical trials. Data from such trials should be analyzed according to initial probing depth and characteristics of the treated sites, such as non‐molar, molar flat surfaces, and molar furcations, and evaluated for long‐term post‐treatment results.