Periodontal treatment with an Er:YAG laser compared to ultrasonic instrumentation: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of an Er:YAG laser to that of ultrasonic scaling for non-surgical periodontal treatment.


METHODS
Twenty patients with moderate to advanced periodontal disease were randomly treated in a split-mouth design with a single episode of subgingival debridement using either an Er:YAG laser device (160 mJ/pulse, 10 Hz) combined with a calculus detection system with fluorescence induced by 655 nm InGaAsP diode laser radiation (ERL), or an ultrasonic instrument (UI). Clinical assessments of full-mouth plaque score (FMPS), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were made at baseline and at 3 and 6 months following therapy.


RESULTS
No differences in any of the investigated parameters were observed at baseline between the two groups. The mean value of BOP decreased in the ERL group from 40% at baseline to 17% after 6 months (P<0.0001) and in the UI group from 46% at baseline to 15% after 6 months (P<0.0001). The sites treated with ERL demonstrated mean CAL gain of 1.48 +/- 0.73 mm (P<0.001) and of 1.11 +/- 0.59 mm (P<0.001) at 3 and 6 months, respectively. The sites treated with UI demonstrated mean CAL gain of 1.53 +/- 0.67 mm (P<0.001) and of 1.11 +/- 0.46 mm (P<0.001) at 3 and 6 months, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limits of the present study, it can be concluded that both therapies led to significant improvements of the investigated clinical parameters.
Sculean
Anton
A
Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. anton.sculean@gmx.de
Schwarz
Frank
F
Berakdar
Mohammad
M
Romanos
George E
GE
Arweiler
Nicole B
NB
Becker
Jürgen
J
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016745:Root Planing / Q000295:instrumentation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy