Treatment of Periodontitis With Er:YAG Laser

The purpose of this research project is to gain information on the best and most comfortable way to treat the periodontal disease. The main objective is to compare the efficacy of conventional scaling and root planning compared to laser scaling for the non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease. Both therapies have shown to be effective and are regularly used in the dental clinic.

The study has been designed as a single blinded split-mouth randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients will be randomized prior to treatment, to which the examiner will be blinded. Clinical parameters will be recorded at baseline and 3 months after treatment has been completed. At the time of recruitment, inclusion/exclusion criteria checklist, informed consent and baseline measurements will be obtained and recorded. Medical history will be updated and radiographs will be reviewed or taken. During the second appointment, conventional scaling and root planing will be performed in the corresponding quadrant; during the third appointment, laser therapy will be conducted, 1 month after, during the forth appointment, a follow up (no measurements) will be scheduled with provider, and 3 months after scaling completion, measurements will be taken and periodontal maintenance performed. Patient will receive home care instructions at every visit and will fill out a visual analogue scale at baseline, 1 month and 3 month visit.