TREATMENT OF PERIODONTAL POCKETS WITH A DIODE-LASER

Background and Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the long -term effect of diode laser therapy on periodontal pockets with regard to its bactericidal abilities and the improvement of periodontal cond ition. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Fifty patients were randoml y subdivided into two groups (laser-group and control-group) and micro biologic samples were collected. There have been six appointments for 6 months following an exact treatment scheme. After evaluating periodo ntal indices (bleeding on probing, Quigley-Hein) including pocket dept hs and instruction of patients in oral hygiene and scaling therapy of all patients, the deepest pockets of each quadrant of the laser-group' s patients were microbiologically examined. Afterwards, all teeth were treated with the diode laser. The control-group received the same tre atment but instead of laser therapy were rinsed with H2O2. Each appoin tment also included a hygienic checkup. After 6 months the final value s of the periodontal indices and further microbiologic samples were me asured. The total bacterial count as well as specific bacteria, such a s Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, and Por phyromonas gingivalis, were assessed semiquantitatively. Results: The bacterial reduction with diode laser therapy was significantly better than in the control group. The index of bleeding on probing improved i n 96.9% in the laser-group, whereas only 66.7% in the control group. P ocket depths could be more reduced in the laser group than in the cont rol group. Conclusion: The diode laser reveals a bactericidal effect a nd helps to reduce inflammation in the periodontal pockets in addition to scaling. The diode laser therapy, in combination with scaling, sup ports healing of the periodontal pockets through eliminating bacteria. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.