title: Efficacy of the ND:YAG laser therapy on EBV and HSV1 contamination in periodontal pockets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to verify the efficacy of Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of periodontal pockets infected by Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subgingival plaque samples of 291 Italian periodontal patients were analyzed by Real Time PCR to evaluate the frequency of both viruses before and after Nd:YAG laser-assisted periodontal treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before treatment, EBV and HSV1 were observed in 29.9% and in 3.8% of periodontal patients respectively, while co-infection with both viruses was detected in 1.7% of cases. Periodontal Nd:YAG laser treatment ("Periodontal Biological Laser-Assisted Therapy", PERIOBLAST) produced statistical significant benefits, especially in EBV periodontal infection: 78.2% of EBV positive patients became EBV-negative following treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this preliminary study highlight that EBV is found in periodontal pockets more frequently than HSV1, supporting the theory of the potential role of EBV in the onset and progression of periodontal disease. Moreover, our data showed that Nd:YAG laser-assisted periodontal treatment (Perioblast) is also effective in case of viral infection, validating evidences that it represents a successful alternative approach to traditional periodontal protocols.
authors.affiliation: Microdentistry Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco Saverio
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bacci
authors.affiliation: Microdentistry Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.affiliation: Istituto Stomatologico Italiano, Reparto di Odontoiatria Biologica Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nobili
authors.affiliation: Microdentistry Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boddi
authors.affiliation: Microdentistry Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.affiliation: Microdentistry Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fanti
mesh_terms: D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000821:virology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000821:virology; D010517:Periodontics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies