Application of Er:YAG Laser in Periodontal Therapy

Abstract

Periodontal disease is defined by local inflammation due to infection with pathogenic bacteria, leading to loss of the supportive tissue around the involved teeth. For treatment of periodontitis it is essential to eliminate etiologic factors such as plaque and dental calculus. Since Er:YAG laser is capable of ablating hard tissues such as bone, dental root and calculus without thermal side effects, it has recently attracted more attention as novel periodontal treatment. Basic studies report that Er:YAG laser has high bactericidal capacity, detoxification effect and favorable root conditioning ability. Furthermore, several controlled clinical studies using Er:YAG laser obtained equivalent or better results compared with conventional mechanical therapy. In this paper, application of the Er:YAG laser for non-surgical and surgical periodontal therapy is discussed based on scientific evidence from currently available basic and clinical studies.