Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the pain relief effect after periodontal and endodontic surgeries between Er: YAG laser irradiation and the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs in the same patients using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Forty teeth in 10 patients were used in this study. The surgical procedure was as follows: the gingival flap was elevated, then root planing and bone defect debridement were done. In the experimental group (Exp) of 22 teeth in 10 patients, Er: YAG laser wa irradiated to root surfaces, bone defects and the inside of gingival flaps after root planing and bone defect debridement (1.0W, 30 seconds, 3 times). In addition, this laser was irradiated around the mucogingival junction immediately after surgery (1.5W, 1 minute, 3 times). In the control group (Coot) of 18 teeth in 10 patients, Er: YAG laser was not irradiated following surgery and antiinflammatory drugs were administered after surgery as early as possible. All patients were administerted some antibiotics. VAS was performed immediately after surgery, at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours after surgery, and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours after getting up for the following two days. Healing was uneventful in all patients. The statistical analysis by the Wilcoxon signed-ranktest indcated that there was no statistical significance between the experimental group and control group for VAS values in this study. This study suggested that Er: YAG laser irradiation and anti-inflammatory drugs might have almost the same pain relief effect after periodontal and endodontic surgeries.
