title: Clinical and microbiologic follow-up evaluations after non-surgical periodontal treatment with erbium:YAG laser and scaling and root planing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study compared erbium-doped: yttrium, aluminum, and garnet (Er:YAG) laser irradiation (100 mJ/pulse; 10 Hz; 12.9 J/cm(2)) with or without conventional scaling and root planing (SRP) to SRP only for treatment of periodontal pockets.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients with pockets from 5 to 9 mm were included. In a split-mouth design, each site was allocated to a treatment group: 1) SRPL, SRP and laser; 2) L, laser; 3) SRP, SRP only; and 4) C, no treatment. Clinical parameters of probing depth (PD), gingival recession, and clinical attachment level (CAL) were evaluated at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Visible plaque index, gingival bleeding index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and subgingival plaque samples were also measured 12 days postoperatively, in addition to the above mentioned months. Intergroup and intragroup statistical analyses were performed (P <0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  GI decreased for SRPL and increased for L, SRP, and C (P <0.05) 12 days postoperatively and decreased for SRPL and SRP (P <0.05) 3, 6, and 12 months after baseline; BOP and PD decreased for all treated groups (P <0.01) 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. CAL gain was significant for SRPL, L, and SRP (P <0.05) 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. SRPL and L presented a significant reduction in the percentage of sites with bacteria 6 and 12 months after treatment (P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-surgical periodontal treatment with Er:YAG laser may be an alternative treatment for reduction and control of the proliferation of microorganisms in persistent periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Araraquara Dental School, UNESP-São Paulo State University, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Beatriz Maria Valério
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Leticia Helena
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Theodoro
authors.forename: Rafaela Fernanda
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Gloria Maria de Azevedo
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Rosemary Adriana Chiérici
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Marcantonio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000528:radiation effects; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000528:radiation effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000628:therapy; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000528:radiation effects; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000528:radiation effects; D045242:Prevotella nigrescens / Q000528:radiation effects; D016745:Root Planing / Q000379:methods*