title: Effect of gallium aluminium arsenide diode laser therapy on Porphyromonas gingivalis in chronic periodontitis: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this randomized, controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of 685-nm gallium aluminium arsenide (GaAlAs) diode laser therapy (1.6 J cm-2) as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients aged 35-60 years old who had chronic periodontitis met the eligibility criteria. They were randomly assigned to two equal groups: scaling and root planing were performed in the SRP group, while scaling, root planing and laser irradiation of periodontal pockets were performed in the SRP + DL group. Subgingival plaque samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect P. gingivalis-colonized sites, and common clinical indices were evaluated before and 2 months after treatment. Clinical examination included gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and gingival bleeding index (GBI), all of which were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 30 patients [19 women and 11 men; mean age, 48.4 (5.4) years old] were analysed. There were statistically significant improvements in GI, PD, CAL and GBI for the SRP + DL group compared to SRP group but no significant difference in PI between the groups. Additionally, the percentage of P. gingivalis-positive sites in the SRP + DL group decreased from 80% (12/15) to 20% (3/15) after laser irradiation (P < 0.05). No significant changes were noted in the SRP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GaAlAs diode laser irradiation of diseased periodontal pockets at 685 nm and 1.6 J cm-2seemed to be an effective adjuvant to mechanical instrumentation to treat chronic periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Halzoman@ksu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Alzoman
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.|Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Diab
mesh_terms: D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000528:radiation effects*
keywords: 
  Porphyromonas gingivalis
  ; chronic periodontitis; lasers; root planing