Impact of Diode Laser as an Adjunct to Professional Mechanical Plaque Removal (PMPR) in Patients With Periodontitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease caused by dental biofilm that provokes a chronic immune-inflammatory response that eventually causes the gradual loss of the periodontal tissues supporting the teeth. The evaluation of the disease is determined by clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and the assessment of alveolar bone radiographically. Periodontal disease is a well-established disease that certainly impacts the general well-being of patients. It is closely linked to poor oral health-related quality of life, particularly in patients with moderate to severe periodontitis.

Moreover, a comprehensive study has demonstrated a direct correlation between the severity of the disease, as indicated by higher staging and grading, and an increased likelihood of tooth loss. The primary goal of periodontal therapy is to prevent or arrest the spread of the periodontal infection. The standard treatment approaches involve non-surgical or surgical periodontal therapy. Mechanical instrumentation (professional mechanical plaque removal - PMPR) is the gold standard in treating periodontal diseases; however, it can be challenging to reach and effectively remove calculus and bacterial deposits in the irregular and furcation areas. Therefore, an adjunctive aid like systemic or local antibiotics is sometimes necessary to be administered. Nevertheless, they have many adverse effects and it is also important to reduce the use of systemic antibiotics given the increases in antimicrobial resistance that occur globally.

Another adjunctive aid such as laser has been introduced to the field of periodontology to achieve bacterial eradication with minimum side effects. The term "laser" is derived from the abbreviation "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation." A laser is a device that produces a well-aligned light beam that is well concentrated, which can maintain its narrowness across a significant distance and be firmly focused. When targeted towards tissues, many interactions occur. The behavior of laser light, including absorption, reflection, transmission, and scattering, is influenced by the laser's wavelength and the tissue's properties.

The primary objective of adjunctive laser use in periodontal therapy is to eliminate the inflamed and necrotic tissues located within the periodontal sulcus. The use of lasers is a contemporary adjunctive to traditional periodontal therapy for treating periodontitis. The alleged benefits of laser therapy include enhanced accessibility to root surfaces, more reliable control of bleeding, and better patient acceptability as it eliminates the requirement for conventional surgical flaps and sutures.