Laser therapy may be new to hygiene, but test results on 20 patients indicate that ultrasonic therapy may be just as effective but produce more sensitivity immediately after the procedure. A random trial evaluated the Er:YAG (erbium-doped:yttrium, aluminium, and garnet) laser versus ultrasonic therapy for debridement and removal of bacterial endotoxins from root surfaces. Selected patients for this trial had 2 teeth with pocket depths of 5 mm or more in alternate quadrants. Evaluations were made at the beginning to establish baselines, and at 1 month and 4 months post-treatment. Pocket depths, clinical attachments, and bacterial status were measured at each benchmark.
Results at 1-month post-treatment indicated decreased pocket depth and increased clinical attachment for both groups. The laser group had a better pocket depth reduction and clinical attachment gain than the ultrasonic group. After 4 months, the ultrasonic group gain had equaled the laser group and there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. Additionally, there was no significant difference in microbial status at either benchmark. However, patients treated with ultrasonic therapy indicated more discomfort immediately post-treatment than the laser group.
(Source: Dental Abstracts, Volume 51, Issue 6, 2006)
