A comparative evaluation of the efficacy of diode laser as an adjunct to mechanical debridement versus conventional mechanical debridement in periodontal flap surgery: a clinical and microbiological study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Research has shown that mechanical methods of periodontal therapy alone may fail to eliminate the tissue-invasive pathogenic flora; therefore, considerable attention has been given to adjunctive antimicrobial measures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of diode laser as an adjunct to mechanical debridement in periodontal flap surgery, on the basis of clinical parameters and microbiological analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 30 patients with generalized chronic periodontitis with probing depth >5 mm after phase I therapy were included in the study. Diode laser was used as an adjunct to open flap debridement (test) as compared with conventional flap surgery (control) in a split-mouth study design. Clinical parameters (plaque and gingival index, probing depth and relative clinical attachment level) and subgingival plaque samples of test and control groups were analyzed at baseline and 3 months post-therapy. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to determine patient discomfort intraoperatively and after 1 week.

RESULTS

The difference between the clinical parameters in the test and control groups did not reach a statistical significance. However, there was a statistically significant reduction in colony forming units (CFU) of obligate anaerobes in the test group as compared with the control group. The diode laser was well tolerated by the patients, as determined by the VAS.

CONCLUSIONS

The bactericidal effect of the diode laser was clearly evident by greater reduction of CFU of obligate anaerobes in the test group than in the control group.