Root surface biomodification with Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of gingival recession with subepithelial connective tissue grafts.
OBJECTIVE
Root surface biomodification has been used to treat gingival recession and periodontitis. The principle for this procedure is that removing the smear layer from the root surfaces exposes collagen fibers, which leads to improved healing. Clinical studies generally have failed to find any improvement in clinical parameters when using such procedures, however. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the outcome of gingival recession therapy using the subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) with or without Nd:YAG laser application for root surface biomodification.


METHODS
Thirty-four teeth in 17 patients with Miller Class 1 and 2 recession were treated with SCTG with (test group) or without (control group) the application of Nd:YAG laser (1 W, 10 Hz, 100 mj, 60 s, 1064 nm). Clinical attachment level (CAL), recession depth (RD), recession width (RW), and probing depth (PD) were measured at baseline and six months postsurgery.


RESULTS
Both treatments yielded significant improvements in terms of RD and RW decrease and CAL gain compared to baseline values. For test and control groups, the average root coverage was 33% and 77%, respectively (p < 0.05), and the complete root coverage was 18% and 65%, respectively (p < 0.05). The control group showed a greater reduction in RD and RW compared with the test group (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of Nd:YAG laser as a root surface biomodifier negatively affected the outcome of root coverage with the SCTG.
Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey. aydilsiz@yahoo.com
Alparslan
A
Dilsiz
Tugba
T
Aydin
Varol
V
Canakci
Yasin
Y
Cicek
D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult