Microbiological effects and recolonization patterns after adjunctive subgingival debridement with Er:YAG laser.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The objective of this study was to assess the microbiological effects and recolonization patterns after non-surgical periodontal treatment protocol based on the adjunctive use of erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) laser.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned to two different treatment protocols: test, full-mouth subgingival ultrasonic instrumentation followed by Er-YAG laser application 1 week later to sites with initial probing pocket depth ≥4.5 mm; and control, full-mouth ultrasonic subgingival instrumentation within 1 week. Clinical (at sampled sites) and microbiological (culture-based) parameters were recorded at baseline and 3 and 12 months. Microbiological variables included total counts, frequency of detection, proportions and counts of target species.

RESULTS:

Results from 19 test and 21 control patients were compared. Minor changes were observed for total colony-forming units, with no differences between groups. For the frequency of detection, a limited and similar impact in both groups was observed for the most prevalent (over 80 %) periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum). For proportions, reductions in P. gingivalis occurred at 3 months, both in the test and control groups (from 16.3 to 10 % and 16 to 14.8 %, respectively), although these differences were not statistically significant. At 12 months, the test group showed a statistically significant greater reduction in probing depth for the sampled sites.

CONCLUSIONS:

The adjunctive use of Er:YAG laser when compared with conventional ultrasonic debridement did not provide a microbiological added benefit.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

Even though some clinical benefits with the adjunctive laser application were identified when comparing both treatment protocols, there were no differences in microbiological outcomes or in the bacterial recolonization patterns.

• Authors: Ignacio Sanz-Sánchez, Alberto Ortiz-Vigón, David Herrera, Mariano Sanz
• Journal: Clinical oral investigations (Clin Oral Investig) Vol. 20 Issue 6 Pg. 1253-61 (Jul 2016) ISSN: 1436-3771 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 26419675 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Chronic Periodontitis (microbiology, therapy)
• Debridement (methods)
• Female
• Fusobacterium nucleatum (isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Lasers, Solid-State (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Periodontal Index
• Porphyromonas gingivalis (isolation & purification)
• Prevotella intermedia (isolation & purification)
• Spain
• Treatment Outcome
• Ultrasonic Therapy (methods)