The aim of this randomized, parallel, controlled clinical trial was to examine the clinical and biochemical efficacy of diode laser as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP). Thirty chronic periodontitis patients were randomly assigned into two groups to receive SRP alone (control) or SRP followed by diode laser (test). Plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment level were measured at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. The gingival crevicular fluid levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Test group showed significantly a better outcome compared to the control group in full-mouth clinical parameters. MMP-1, MMP-8, and TIMP-1 showed significant differences between groups after treatment compared to baseline (p < 0.05). The total amount of IL-1β, IL-6, MMP-1, MMP-8, and TIMP-1 decreased (p < 0.05) and IL-8 increased after treatment in both test and control groups (p < 0.05). Diode laser provided significant improvements in clinical parameters and MMP-8 was significantly impacted by the adjunctive laser treatment at first month providing an insight to how lasers can enhance the outcomes of the nonsurgical periodontal therapy.

The results of the study indicate that short-pulse laser setup (laser I) looks more promising regarding the attachment, spreading, and orientation of PDL cells.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficiency of hand instrumentation and laser irradiation on calculus removal from the root surfaces, in vitro. Thirty-two human teeth, extracted for periodontal reasons, were used in this study. Root surfaces of single-rooted teeth were treated by different methods including (1) conventional hand instruments; (2) hand instruments and tetracycline-hydrochloride (Tet-HCl); (3) erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser irradiation, setting I (short pulse); (4) Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation, setting II (long pulse). Three premolar teeth, extracted for orthodontic reasons, served as control. The morphology of the root surfaces was evaluated by light and scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was performed to compare the mineral content of root surfaces treated with hand instrumentation and lasing procedures. The results of this study demonstrated that all treatments were efficient in calculus removal from the root surfaces. Thermal changes, including melting and carbonization, were not observed in either lasing procedure. The surface was rougher in the laser groups than in the groups treated with hand instruments. Moreover, roughness was greater in the long-pulse laser setting than in the short-pulse setting. While increased calcium (Ca) and decreased phosphate (P) (weight concentration percent) were observed in all treatments when compared with the control, laser procedures resulted in a more similar mineral content than in the groups treated with hand instruments. Based on these findings, laser procedures, when used in appropriate settings, are capable of performing scaling and root planing in the treatment of periodontitis. It may be concluded that short pulse laser may be more suitable for the micro-morphology of the root surface. However, additional in vitro and clinical studies are necessary to clarify the success of laser in periodontal therapy.

The aims of this in vitro study are to compare the efficacy of different cleaning methods in removing debris of failed implants and to detect thermal changes of the implants treated by various scaling instruments. Twenty-seven failed implants and two unused implants as control were included to this study-group 1: plastic curette (P), group 2: titanium curette (T), group 3: carbon curette (C), group 4: titanium brush (TB), group 5: Er:YAG laser (laser 1 (L1) 100 mJ/pulse at 10 Hz), group 6: Er:YAG laser (laser 2 (L2) 150 mJ/pulse at 10 Hz), group 7: Er:YAG laser (laser 3 (L3) 200 mJ/pulse at 10 Hz), group 8: ultrasonic scaler appropriate for titanium (US), group 9: air abrasive method (AA) + citric acid, and group 10: implantoplasty (I). The changes on the treated/untreated titanium surfaces and remnant debris were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Temperature of the implants before and after treatment was detected using a thermocouple. The use of air abrasive and citric acid combination and Er:YAG laser groups was found as the best methods for the decontamination of titanium surfaces of failed implant. When the hand instruments were compared, titanium curette was found better than both the plastic and the carbon curettes which leave plastics and carbon remnants on the titanium surface. The temperature was higher after hand instrumentation when compared to other experimental groups (p < 0.05). Within the limitations of the present in vitro model, it can be concluded that the best method for decontamination of the implant surface is the use of air abrasives and Er:YAG laser.

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