Combined application of Er:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers in treatment of chronic periodontitis. A split-mouth, single-blind, randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of combined Er:YAG and Nd:YAG laser therapy to that of scaling and root planing with hand instruments in non-surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis.


METHODS
Twenty-five systemically healthy patients with chronic periodontitis were selected for this study. The quadrants were randomly allocated in a split-mouth design to either combined Er:YAG (160 mJ/pulse, 10 Hz) and Nd:YAG laser (100 mJ/pulse, 20 Hz) therapy (test group) or scaling and root planing alone (control group). At baseline, 1 month and 3 months after treatment, plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, clinical attachment level and bleeding on probing (%), were recorded and gingival crevicular fluid and subgingival plaque samples were taken. The gingival crevicular fluid levels of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Quantitative analysis of red complex bacteria was performed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The clinical parameters had significantly improved for both groups after treatment. There were statistically significant differences in probing depth and clinical attachment level between the test and control groups only for deep pockets (≥7 mm) (P<.05). No significant differences between the two groups were observed for the biochemical and microbiological parameters at any time points (P>.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that a combined course of Er:YAG and Nd:YAG laser therapy may be beneficial particularly in inaccessible areas such as deep pockets on a short-term basis. Further, well-designed studies are required to assess the effectiveness of the combination of these lasers.
Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
M
M
Sağlam
Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
S
S
Köseoğlu
Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
I
I
Taşdemir
Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
H
H
Erbak Yılmaz
Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
L
L
Savran
9242/1 Street, Apartment No: 5, Karabağlar, Izmir, Turkey.
R
R
Sütçü
D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004245:DMF Index; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016745:Root Planing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D014421:Turkey
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Er:YAG lasers; Nd:YAG lasers; chronic periodontitis; non-surgical periodontal debridement