Laser treatment of periodontally-diseased root surfaces

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to provide information about the current and potential applications of laser technology in the treatment of periodontally-diseased root surfaces and periodontal pockets. Based on its various characteristics, such as ablation or vaporization, hemostasis, and sterilization effect, laser treatment has been expected to serve as an alternative or adjunctive therapy to conventional, mechanical periodontal therapy. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and neodymium: yttrium-alminum-garnet (Nd: YAG) lasers have been approved for soft tissue treatment in periodontics, because of their excellent ability for soft tissue ablation, accompanied by hemostatic and bactericidal effects. However, these laser irradiations showed insufficient ability to ablate dental hard tissues, due to major thermal side-effects, when high energy output was applied. Recently, the erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er: YAG) laser has been developed in dentistry, and its excellent ability for ablation in both soft and hard tissues has enabled laser application to root surface debridement, as well as to dental caries removal. Currently, laser application into periodontal pocket has become a promising field in laser dentistry, and much interest has been focused in this area. Further basic and clinical studies are required in order to establish a base for clinical use of laser energy in periodontal therapy, and clinicians should follow the results of scientific investigations to obtain successful outcomes.