title: A comparison of Er:YAG laser and mechanical debridement for the non-surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis: a randomized, prospective clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare a monotherapy of Er:YAG laser debridement (ERL), wavelength 2940 nm, with mechanical scaling and root planing (SRP) for the treatment of chronic periodontitis using clinical and patient-centred outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight participants had two randomly assigned quadrants treated with ERL and two with SRP. Full-mouth plaque index, probing depth, bleeding on probing, clinical attachment level and gingival recession were recorded at baseline and 6- and 12-weeks post therapy. A questionnaire was used to assess pain, discomfort and satisfaction during and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two participants completed treatment and had 6- and 12-week clinical re-evaluations. SRP provided greater mean pocket depth reduction at 6- and 12-weeks (p = 0.01 and p = 0.003 respectively), and a greater reduction in pockets ≥ 4 mm at 6 weeks only (p = 0.03) compared with ERL. SRP also resulted in a significant reduction in bleeding on probing (BOP) sites at 12 weeks compared with ERL and a statistically significant greater reduction in mean clinical attachment level (CAL) at 6- (p = 0.02) and 12-weeks (p = 0.03). Patients expressed greater satisfaction with SRP on the day of treatment but were equally satisfied subsequently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SRP resulted in a statistically significant greater short-term improvement in clinical parameters and patient satisfaction compared with ERL.
authors.affiliation: Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lingfeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Leichter
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Windle
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Monteith
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cullinan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000628:therapy; D057747:Periodontal Debridement / Q000379:methods*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy