title: Laser-assisted laterally positioned flap operation: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this randomized, controlled clinical trial was to compare the effectiveness of a new treatment approach, which consisted of laterally positioned flap (LPF) procedure combined with an external vestibular releasing incision made by a diode laser (LALPF) to LPF alone for the treatment of isolated gingival recession defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two healthy patients presenting single Miller class II isolated gingival recessions with minimal loss of interdental papilla were treated with an LPF technique. Sixteen patients were randomly assigned to the test group (laser-assisted laterally positioned flap [LALPF]), and the other 16 patients were assigned to the control group (LPF). In the test group, diode laser was used for vestibular deepening in order to obtain maximum maneuverability of the advanced flap. Clinical and patient-centered parameters (visual analog scale for pain and aesthetics [VAS]) were measured at baseline, 7 days, and 6 months after the surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete root coverage from baseline to 6 months post-surgery was achieved for 46.7% of the control group and 81.2% of the test group (p=0.044). There were no differences in VAS pain measurements between the groups. Patient satisfaction with aesthetics was higher in LALPF group than in the LPF group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Six month results showed that the LALPF approach was effective for the treatment of single Miller class II gingival recessions.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Cukurova , Adana, Turkey .
authors.forename: Eftal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozcelik
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Comert
authors.forename: Seda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozturan
authors.forename: Gulsah
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seydaoglu
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Teughels
authors.forename: Mehmet Cenk
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Haytac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013524:Surgical Flaps