Effect of Nd: YAG laser irradiation on the treatment of oral malodour associated with chronic periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate, using a randomised-controlled, single clinical trial whether treating periodontitis with non-surgical periodontal treatment procedures and laser applications can decrease the effect of oral malodour and compare the effectiveness of the different therapies.


METHODS
Sixty patients suffering from chronic periodontitis and complaining of oral malodour were included in the study. The parameters measured included organoleptic scoring, volatile sulphur compound (VSC) levels, gingival index, plaque index, probing depth and clinical attachment levels before and after the different treatment procedures (oral hygiene instructions, scaling-root planing-SRP and subgingival Nd: YAG laser irradiation).


RESULTS
There were significant relationships between oral malodour and the specific periodontal parameters. For all patients, there were statistically significant (p < 0.05) decreases in the clinical index scores and VSC values after all treatments. Although the VSC values decreased in all groups after treatment, laser treatment alone did not cause as large decreases as that achieved by SRP and SRP + laser irradiation.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirmed that in the population studied, oral malodour levels were significantly reduced after treating chronic periodontitis. The data indicated a possible adjunctive role for Nd: YAG lasers in periodontal therapy and treatment of oral malodour.
Kara
Cankat
C
Atatürk Universitesi, Diş Hekimligi Fakültesi Periodontoloji Anabilim Dali 25240, Erzurum, Turkey. mcankat@hotmail.com
Demir
Turgut
T
Orbak
Recep
R
Tezel
Adnan
A
D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests; D002908:Chronic Disease; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis
D013440:Sulfides