title: Effectiveness of a diode laser in addition to non-surgical periodontal therapy: study of intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic periodontitis affects 47% of adult population over the age of 30. The first phase of periodontal treatment is always represented by scaling and root planning (SRP), that is a causal, non-surgical therapy that recognizes as primary aims the control of bacterial infection and the reduction of periodontal plaque-associated inflammation. Yet, another innovative causal therapy is represented by the irradiation of periodontal pockets with laser.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a 940-nm diode laser as an adjunct to SRP in patients affected by periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight adult patients with moderate-to-severe periodontitis were sequentially enrolled and undergone to periodontal examination (V1) in order to detect gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI) and probing depth (PD). The patients were randomly divided into two groups: the first (n=34) received SRP treatment alone, the control group (n=34) received SRP and 940-nm diode laser therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were analyzed by Student's t-test, with two tails; for all clinical parameters, both groups reported statistically significant differences compared to basal values (p<0.0001). Both procedures were effective in improving GI, PI and PD, but the use of diode laser was associated with more evident results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considered the better clinical outcomes, diode laser can be routinely associated with SRP in the treatment of periodontal pockets of patients with moderate-to-severe periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crispino
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele Mario
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Figliuzzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iovane
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Del Giudice
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lomanno
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Delfina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pacifico
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonzio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fortunato
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Oral Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Del Giudice
keywords: diode laser; periodontal diseases; root planning; scaling