Clinical and biochemical evaluation of the effects of nd:Yag laser on periodontal therapy. a randomized split mouth clinical trial

Lasers can achieve excellent tissue ablation with strong bactericidal and detoxification effects. The use of lasers is one of the most promising new technical modalities for non surgical periodontal treatment. However, the most effective wavelength, parameters and treatment modalities for their use are still under investigation. The aim of this clinical trial was to determine the clinical and biochemical efficacy of Laser-Assissed New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) as an adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP) and was to evaluate the effect of LANAP on periodontal healing potential in chronic periodontitis patients. Twenty-two generalized chronic periodontitis patients who were referred to periodontology department of Gaziantep University Dentistry Faculty were included in the study. This study was designed as a single-blinded, randomized-controlled, split-mouth clinical trial. Patients included in this study underwent two different treatment modalities. Test and control sites were chosen with coin toss randomization. At the test site, patients received LANAP treatment, at the contra lateral control site, they received SRP treatment alone. The clinical indices and GCF samples were obtained from all patients before treatment, after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment. In statistical analysis Wilcoxon tests were used within the groups while Mann Whitney U tests were used between the groups. Both treatment modalities resulted in significant improvements in clinical and biochemical parameters. Sites irradiated with LANAP showed statistically significicantly (p<0,05) enhanced healing in the registered periodontal variables (PPD, CAL, Gİ) and IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MCP-1 in GCF levels compared to SRP alone. Within the limitations of this study, the use of LANAP procedure may produced significant improvements in clinical parameters as well as GCF cytokines levels.