The effect of an Er,Cr: YSGG laser in the management of intrabony defects associated with chronic periodontitis using minimally invasive closed flap surgery. A case series

TY - JOUR

T1 - The effect of an Er,Cr

T2 - YSGG laser in the management of intrabony defects associated with chronic periodontitis using minimally invasive closed flap surgery. A case series

AU - Al-Falaki, Rana

AU - Hughes, Francis

AU - Wadia, Reena

AU - Eastman, Christie

AU - Kontogiorgos, Elias

AU - Low, Samuel B.

PY - 2016/6/30

Y1 - 2016/6/30

N2 - Aims: This is an extended case series of patients treated with an Erbium, Chromium: Yttrium Scandium Gallium Garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser as an adjunct to scaling for the management of intrabony defects.Materials and methods: 46 patients with 79 angular intrabony defects associated with pocket depths of >5mm, and a mean age of 53 ± 9 years presenting with chronic periodontitis were included in the analysis. All patients underwent a localized minimally invasive closed flap surgery utilizing Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy. Final radiographs and pocket depths were compared to pretreatment measurements with a time period of 8 ± 3 months.Results: Treatment resulted in significant overall pocket depth reduction. The mean pre-op probing depth was 8.1 ± 1.9mm, reducing to 2.4 ± 0.9mm post-treatment. Bony infill of the defects was visible radiographically and there was an increase in overall radiographic coronal osseous height compared to a pre-treatment baseline. Radiographs of 15 of the defects were available for further measurements after >12 months, and showed in these sites there was a significant reduction in intrabony defect depth, but no change in suprabony bone height. 9 of the 15 sites showed 50% or more, bony infill of the intrabony defect.Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the utilization of an Er,Cr:YSGG laser in a closed flap approach with chronic periodontitis may be of significant clinical benefit. Further studies using this laser surgical protocol are required to test these observations in well-designed randomized controlled trials. 

AB - Aims: This is an extended case series of patients treated with an Erbium, Chromium: Yttrium Scandium Gallium Garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser as an adjunct to scaling for the management of intrabony defects.Materials and methods: 46 patients with 79 angular intrabony defects associated with pocket depths of >5mm, and a mean age of 53 ± 9 years presenting with chronic periodontitis were included in the analysis. All patients underwent a localized minimally invasive closed flap surgery utilizing Er,Cr:YSGG laser therapy. Final radiographs and pocket depths were compared to pretreatment measurements with a time period of 8 ± 3 months.Results: Treatment resulted in significant overall pocket depth reduction. The mean pre-op probing depth was 8.1 ± 1.9mm, reducing to 2.4 ± 0.9mm post-treatment. Bony infill of the defects was visible radiographically and there was an increase in overall radiographic coronal osseous height compared to a pre-treatment baseline. Radiographs of 15 of the defects were available for further measurements after >12 months, and showed in these sites there was a significant reduction in intrabony defect depth, but no change in suprabony bone height. 9 of the 15 sites showed 50% or more, bony infill of the intrabony defect.Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the utilization of an Er,Cr:YSGG laser in a closed flap approach with chronic periodontitis may be of significant clinical benefit. Further studies using this laser surgical protocol are required to test these observations in well-designed randomized controlled trials. 

KW - Bone growth

KW - Er,Cr:YSGG laser

KW - Intrabony defects

KW - Pocket reduction

KW - Root surface debridement

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84976568141&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.5978/islsm.16-OR-11

DO - 10.5978/islsm.16-OR-11

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84976568141

SN - 0898-5901

VL - 25

SP - 131

EP - 139

JO - Laser Therapy

JF - Laser Therapy

IS - 2

ER -