Introduction. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of addition of the antimicrobial photodynamic therapy to the conventional approach in the treatment of peri-implantitis. Materials and Methods. Forty patients were randomly assigned to test or control groups. Patients were assessed at baseline and at six (T1), twelve (T2), and twenty-four (T3) weeks recording plaque index (PlI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and bleeding on probing (BOP); control group received conventional periodontal therapy, while test group received photodynamic therapy in addition to it. Result. Test group showed a 70% reduction in the plaque index values and a 60% reduction in PD values compared to the baseline. BOP and suppuration were not detectable. Control group showed a significative reduction in plaque index and PD. Discussion. Laser therapy has some advantages in comparison to traditional therapy, with faster and greater healing of the wound. Conclusion. Test group showed after 24 weeks a better value in terms of PPD, BOP, and PlI, with an average pocket depth value of 2 mm, if compared with control group (3 mm). Our results suggest that antimicrobial photodynamic therapy with diode laser and phenothiazine chloride represents a reliable adjunctive treatment to conventional therapy. Photodynamic therapy should, however, be considered a coadjuvant in the treatment of peri-implantitis associated with mechanical (scaling) and surgical (grafts) treatments.

In oral pathology, laser devices can provide important advantages, especially in the treatment of certain lesions. However, there is controversy about the use of some wavelengths in the analysis of suspected dysplastic or neoplastic lesions, raising doubt about the laser's suitability for use in biopsy procedures. In recent studies, the KTP and diode lasers have been used in biopsy procedures without histological artefacts. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the exact extent of peripheral thermal damage to oral soft tissues caused by an Er:YAG laser (λ 2,940 nm) without water cooling. The study was performed on five swine cadaver tongues. Nine samples from each tongue were taken by the same operator using the Er:YAG laser with increasing energies (from 60 to 150 mJ) and fluencies (from 21 to 53 J/cm(2)). In addition to the laser samples, a specimen obtained using a scalpel was used as control. The samples were placed in 10% formalin solution and were examined by optical microscopy by two blinded pathologists who assigned a thermal damage score (from 0 to 3) to each sample. The Er:YAG laser produced less damage at 80 and 100 mJ and 28 and 35 J/cm(2) (intermediate parameters). Although in some samples thermal damage was minimally visible, in all samples histological evaluation was clearly possible. The study demonstrated that the Er:YAG laser can be safely used in oral biopsy investigations while ensuring a successful histological evaluation, which is fundamental to correct clinical management.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare secondary intention healing of oral soft tissues after laser surgery with and without the use of a compound containing amino acids and sodium hyaluronate. Background data: Sodium hyaluronate has been successfully used in medicine to promote healing. It has not been studied in the healing of laser-produced wounds. Materials and methods: Excisional biopsy was performed in oral soft tissues with a potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser (532nm, SmartLite, DEKA, Florence, Italy) in 49 patients divided into two groups. In the study group (SG), 31 patients received a compound gel containing four amino acids and sodium hyaluronate (Aminogam((R)), Errekappa, Italy) after laser surgery; in the control group (CG), 18 subjects received no treatment involving a drug or gel. Numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to evaluate pain experienced after surgery [pain index (PI)]. Using a grid as a benchmark and computer software, the lesion area was measured after surgery (T-0) and after 7 days (T-1). A percentage healing index (PHI) was calculated indicating healing extension in 7 days. Results: SG cases showed an average PHI of 64.38 +/- 26.50, whereas the average PHI in the CG was 47.88%+/- 27.84. Mean PI was 2.67 +/- 0.96 for SG and 2.75 +/- 0.86 for CG. A statistically significant difference was detected between the groups for PHI (p=0.0447), whereas no difference was detectable for PI (p=0.77). Conclusions: The use of a gel containing amino acids and sodium hyaluronate can promote faster healing via secondary intention in laser-induced wounds, although it does not seem to affect pain perception

The purpose of this study is the evaluation of the histological effects of a new-generation superpulsed CO2 laser through an “ex vivo” study. A CO2 (λ = 10,600 nm) ultra-speed laser (SmartUS20D, DEKA, Florence, Italy) has been used at different parameters from 2 to 4 watt in Continuous Wave (CW) and Pulsed Wave (PW, 50 Hz) to obtain 30 samples from pig cadaver tongues. All the specimens have been subdivided into 6 groups (from A to F) and each group consisted of 5 samples. A final specimen has been taken by scalpel and used as control group. Histological analysis has been performed using an optical microscope (Leica DM 2000) at a magnification of ×40. Results showed that histological readability was optimal in all the samples. The thermal damage has been negligible in all the groups. Furthermore, the average of thermal damage was 0,095 mm in the epithelial, while it was 0.245 mm in the connective tissue. Statistical analysis using Graphpad Prism 5 software showed no significant differences among the groups. CO2 laser demonstrated a good surgical effectiveness provoking little peripheral damage onto the cut edges and allowing a safe histological diagnosis.

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