title: Commentary: Is There Clinical Benefit From Using a Diode or Neodymium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Laser in the Treatment of Periodontitis?
abstract: Despite a quarter of a century of laser research, there is a persistent debate regarding the efficacy of dental lasers in the treatment of periodontitis or periodontal maintenance therapy. There are many claims and much hyperbole surrounding the use of lasers, either as a monotherapy or adjunctive to scaling and root planing, to treat periodontitis. There is little evidence that using a diode or neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser adds clinical value over and above conventional non-surgical or surgical periodontal treatment. There is a significant need for better designed human clinical trials. Data from such trials should be analyzed according to initial probing depth and characteristics of the treated sites, such as non-molar, molar flat surfaces, and molar furcations, and evaluated for long-term post-treatment results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO.
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cobb
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum; D012534:Dental Scaling; D006801:Humans; D009354:Neodymium; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis; D015019:Yttrium
chemical_list: C503779:yttrium-aluminum-garnet; D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium; D000535:Aluminum
keywords: Lasers; lasers, semiconductor; lasers, solid state; periodontal diseases; periodontitis