Clinical and Immunological Effects of Er,Cr:YSGG Laser in Nonsurgical Periodontal Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and immunological results of nonsurgical periodontal treatment with or without the erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser. Background data: As lasers have begun to be used in dentistry, the Er,Cr:YSGG laser has started to attract attention in the field of periodontology. Materials and methods: Fifty-nine nonsmoking patients with advanced chronic periodontitis were randomly allocated to a test group (full-mouth ultrasonic supra- and subgingival debridement+Er,Cr:YSGG laser application) and a control group (full-mouth ultrasonic supra- and subgingival debridement+root planing with Gracey curettes). The laser parameters were set as follows: 1.5 W output power, pulse mode H (pulse duration of 140 μs), pulse frequency of 20 Hz, and an air-water spray ratio of 10% air and 15% water. The instrumentation was performed until the operator felt that the root surfaces were adequately debrided. Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and MMP-8/TIMP-1 levels in gingival crevicular fluid were evaluated at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months postoperatively. Results: There were statistically significant differences in PD, which was our primary outcome, and BOP between the groups at both examinations [p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 (for PD) and p = 0.048 and p < 0.001 (for BOP), respectively], in favor of the laser group. However, there were no significant differences among groups at any time for CAL gain (p = 563 and p = 369, respectively). No significant differences in MMP-8, TIMP-1, and MMP-8/TIMP-1 levels were detected among groups. There was a statistically significant difference for IL-1β levels among groups at 3-month evaluations in favor of the laser group. Conclusions: Using the Er,Cr:YSGG laser instead of hand instruments in nonsurgical periodontal treatment has shown additional improvements in terms of pocket reduction and gingival bleeding compared with traditional nonsurgical therapy.

Keywords: laser therapy; periodontitis; scaling and root planing.