title: Clinical evaluation of an Er:YAG laser for nonsurgical treatment of peri-implantitis: a pilot study.
abstract: The aim of this controlled, parallel design clinical study was to compare the effectiveness of an Er:YAG laser (ERL) to that of mechanical debridement using plastic curettes and antiseptic therapy for nonsurgical treatment of peri-implantitis. Twenty patients with moderate to advanced peri-implantitis lesions were randomly treated with either (1) an ERL using a cone-shaped glass fiber tip at an energy setting of 100 mJ/pulse and 10 pps (ERL), or (2) mechanical debridement using plastic curettes and antiseptic therapy with chlorhexidine digluconate (0.2%) (C). The following clinical parameters were measured at baseline, 3 and 6 months after treatment by one blinded and calibrated examiner: Plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR) and clinical attachment level (CAL). At the baseline examination, there were no statistically significant differences in any of the investigated parameters. Mean value of BOP decreased in the ERL group from 83% at baseline to 31% after 6 months (P < 0.001) and in the C group from 80% at baseline to 58% after 6 months (P < 0.001). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001, respectively). The sites treated with ERL demonstrated a mean CAL change from 5.8 +/- 1 mm at baseline to 5.1 +/- 1.1 mm (P < 0.01) after 6 months. The C sites demonstrated a mean CAL change from 6.2 +/- 1.5 mm at baseline to 5.6 +/- 1.6 mm (P < 0.001) after 6 months. After 6 months, the difference between the two groups was statistically not significant (P > 0.05). Within the limits of the present study, it was concluded that (i) at 6 months following treatment both therapies led to significant improvements of the investigated clinical parameters, and (ii) ERL resulted in a statistically significant higher reduction of BOP than C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Westdeutsche Kieferklinik, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. info@frank-schwarz.de
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sculean
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rothamel
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schwenzer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Georg
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004871:Erbium; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013357:Subgingival Curettage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D015921:Dental Implants; D004871:Erbium; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine