Effects of Nd:YAG and CO₂ Laser Treatment and Ultrasonic Scaling on Periodontal Pockets of Chronic Periodontitis Patients

Abstract

Our data suggest that Nd:YAG laser and ultrasonic scaling treatments showed significant improvements regarding the clinical parameters and subgingival microflora compared to the baseline, but no significant difference was observed between the 3 groups.

Alternative Treatment Approaches in Chronic Periodontitis: Laser Applications

“…In the case of the CO2 laser, because of the lack of an appropriate flexible delivery system with suitable contact tips for periodontal pocket therapy, only a few clinical studies have been reported on the effects of this laser in the non surgical treatment of periodontitis (Miyazaki et al, 2003;Mullins et al, 2007). Also, CO2 irradiation of the periodontal pocket using a special tip failed to result in a reduction of bacterial counts, and potentially damaged the soft tissue surrounding the periodontal pocket itself with cases of residual melted calculus being reported.…”

Laser Radiation as an Adjunct to Nonsurgical Treatment of Periodontal Disease

“…In the last decade, there are barely clinical studies published analyzing the clinical evolution and the inflammatory mediator levels in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) after irradiation with Nd:YAG laser in the affected sites in patients with chronic periodontitis. The results obtained in four clinical studies, performed by three different research groups, should be emphasized (Gómez et al, 2011;Miyazaki et al, 2003;Qadri et al, 2010Qadri et al, , 2011. The overheating of the irradiated tissues and the consequent damage of the oral hard and soft tissues, could explain the limited support to this kind of laser radiation from the scientific community (Miserendino et al, 1994).…”

Lasers and soft tissue: periodontal therapy

“…[33][34][35][36] Some studies have reported on the additional role of laser use in conjunction with scaling and root planing and locally-applied antibiotic preparations. 37,38 It is evident from the numerous studies undertaken in this fi eld that the levels of incident energy employed are essentially suffi cient to ablate bacterial cellular structure; what appears to be diffi cult to quantify is the protocol required to render any periodontal pocket 'sterile'.…”