title: The effect of an 810-nm diode laser on postoperative pain and tissue response after modified Widman flap surgery: a pilot study in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this single-masked pilot clinical study is to compare the tissue response and postoperative pain after the use of a diode laser (810 nm) (DL) as an adjunct to modified Widman flap (MWF) surgery to that of MWF alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients with generalized severe chronic periodontitis completed the study. Control sites were randomly selected to receive an MWF and the contralateral test sites an MWF in conjunction with a DL. The study tooth/site was treated plus any additional teeth in the quadrant in which the site was located, if needed. Randomization was done using a coin flip. The DL was used to de-epithelialize the inner part of the periodontal flap and photo-biostimulate the surgical area. Pain scale assessment (PS), pain medication consumption (PM), tissue edema (TE), and tissue color (TC) were evaluated 1 week after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences were seen for TE (P = 0.041), PM (P <0.001), and PS (P <0.001) favoring test sites. TC did not show a statistically significant difference (P = 0.9766). Patients rated the first surgical treatment (test or control; random assignment to first treatment) performed as more painful than the second (P <0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of an 810-nm diode laser provided additional benefits to MWF surgery in terms of less edema and postoperative pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, International University of Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. javisanz79@-hotmail.com
authors.forename: Javier D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sanz-Moliner
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nart
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Sebastian G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ciancio
mesh_terms: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003116:Color; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D007052:Ibuprofen