title: Microbiological effects and recolonization patterns after adjunctive subgingival debridement with Er:YAG laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the microbiological effects and recolonization patterns after non-surgical periodontal treatment protocol based on the adjunctive use of erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) laser.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned to two different treatment protocols: test, full-mouth subgingival ultrasonic instrumentation followed by Er-YAG laser application 1 week later to sites with initial probing pocket depth ≥4.5 mm; and control, full-mouth ultrasonic subgingival instrumentation within 1 week. Clinical (at sampled sites) and microbiological (culture-based) parameters were recorded at baseline and 3 and 12 months. Microbiological variables included total counts, frequency of detection, proportions and counts of target species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results from 19 test and 21 control patients were compared. Minor changes were observed for total colony-forming units, with no differences between groups. For the frequency of detection, a limited and similar impact in both groups was observed for the most prevalent (over 80 %) periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum). For proportions, reductions in P. gingivalis occurred at 3 months, both in the test and control groups (from 16.3 to 10 % and 16 to 14.8 %, respectively), although these differences were not statistically significant. At 12 months, the test group showed a statistically significant greater reduction in probing depth for the sampled sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The adjunctive use of Er:YAG laser when compared with conventional ultrasonic debridement did not provide a microbiological added benefit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even though some clinical benefits with the adjunctive laser application were identified when comparing both treatment protocols, there were no differences in microbiological outcomes or in the bacterial recolonization patterns.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Clinic in Periodontology, Faculty of Odontology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal S/N., 28040, Madrid, Spain. ignaciosanz@mac.com.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sanz-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Clinic in Periodontology, Faculty of Odontology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal S/N., 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Vigón
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Clinic in Periodontology, Faculty of Odontology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal S/N., 28040, Madrid, Spain.|ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal Diseases) Research Group, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Clinic in Periodontology, Faculty of Odontology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal S/N., 28040, Madrid, Spain.|ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal Diseases) Research Group, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013030:Spain; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Chronic periodontitis; Erbium:YAG laser; Microbiota; Periodontal pocket; Subgingival scaling