title: KTP laser therapy as an adjunctive to scaling and root planing in treatment of chronic periodontitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main goal of periodontal treatment is to control infection and, thereby, curb disease progression. Recent studies have suggested that the use of a laser as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) might improve the effectiveness of conventional periodontal treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical effects of potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser therapy in the treatment of chronic periodontitis in combination with traditional SRP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with untreated chronic periodontitis were treated using a split-mouth study design in which each side was randomly treated by SRP alone (control group) or KTP laser (0.8W, time on 50 ms, time off 50 ms, 30 s, 532 nm) followed by SRP (test group). In the distribution of the teeth (total = 124 teeth) in the patients, 106 (86%) were molars and 18 (14%) were premolars. The selected teeth were probed with a pressure-controlled probe, guided by stents. Clinical periodontal parameters including plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD) and probing attachment level (PAL) were recorded at baseline and at 2 and 12 months following therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis demonstrated no differences between groups at baseline for all parameters (p > 0.05). BOP and PPD reductions and PAL gains were statistically significant both between baseline and 2 months and between baseline and 12 months in both groups (p < 0.05). The test group showed a greater reduction in PPD compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the test group showed a greater probing attachment gain compared to the control group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with chronic periodontitis, clinical outcomes of conventional periodontal treatment can be improved by using an adjunctive KTP laser.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Atatürk University , Erzurum , Turkey.
authors.forename: Alparslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dilsiz
authors.forename: Semanur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sevinc
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; 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 / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D016745:Root Planing / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: chronic periodontitis; laser therapy; lasers and potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser; non-surgical periodontal debridement