A short-term clinical effect observation of Er:YAG laser assisted treatment of chronic periodontitis

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the short term adjuvant effect of Er:YAG laser in non surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis.Methods Thirty patients were included into this split-mouth single blind randomized controlled clinical trial. Teeth in the test group were treated with a single application of Er:YAG laser and scaling and root planing (SRP), while teeth in the control group were treated with SRP alone. Periodontal inflammatory parameters, plaque index, gingival index, and probing pocket depth were measured at baseline, 4-week and 3-month follow-up. Gingival crevicular fluid was collected from the periodontal pockets of teeth.Results At 4-week follow-up, probing pocket depth and gingival crevicular fluid showed significant difference between test group and control group (P<0.05). At 3-month follow-up, probing pocket depth, plaque index, gingival index, and gingival crevicular fluid showed significant difference between test group and control group (P<0.05).Conclusion In the short term effect, Er:YAG laser has a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.

Keywords

• Er:YAG laser
• Chronic periodontitis
• Scaling
• Root planing
• Gingival crevicular fluid