Effects of scaling and root planning with Er: YAG laser in chronic periodontitis: a controlled clinical, immune and microbiological human study

BACKGROUND: The Er:YAG laser has recently been used for periodontal therapy. This study compared Er:YAG laser irradiation (100 mJ/pulse, 10 Hz, 12.9 J/cm2) with or without conventional scaling and root planing (SRP), versus SRP only for treatment of periodontal pockets affected with chronic periodontitis. METHODS: Twenty-one patients, with pockets from 5 to 9 mm in non-adjacent sites, were studied. In a split-mouth design, each site was randomly allocated to a treatment group: 1) SRPL - SRP and laser; 2) L - laser only; 3) SRP - only SRP; 4) C - no treatment. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and interleukin-1 levels in crevicular fluid (IL-1β) were evaluated at baseline, 12, 30, 90 and 180 postoperatively, while probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were evaluated at baseline, 30, 90 e 180 days after treatment. Statistical analysis was conducted (p<0.05) inter and intra groups. RESULTS: Twelve days postoperatively, PI decreased for SRPL and SRP (p<0,05); GI increased for L, SRP and C (p<0,05) and BOP reduces for SRPL, L and SRP (p<0,05). Thirty days after treatments, PI decreased for SRPL and SRP (p<0,05), GI decreased for SRPL (p<0,05) and increased for C (p<0,05). BOP decreased for SRPL, L and SRP groups and data showed BOP reduction when compared the C (p<0,05). Values of PD decreased in SRPL, L and SRP groups (p<0,05), CAL gain showed an improvement for SRP (p<0,05) and GR increased for SRPL and L (p<0,05). Ninety days postoperatively, PI decreased for all treated groups (p<0,05); GI reduced for SRPL and SRP (p<0,05); BOP decreased for all treated groups (p<0,05). Data of PD showed a reduction for SRPL, L and SRP groups (p<0,05); CAL gain was significant for SRPL, L and SRP groups (p<0,05); GR values increased for SRPL and L groups (p<0,05).