Application of the Characteristics of Er:YAG Laser in Periodontal Therapy

Abstract

The Er:YAG laser (ErL) is effectively used in daily clinical practice for periodontal treatment because of its excellent ability to ablate both soft and hard tissues. During initial periodontal treatment, ErL laser can be used to perform scaling and root planning with minimum damage to the underlying cementum. In surgical therapy, degranulation in bone defects can be safely performed using the ErL. Recently, we developed a novel procedure for periodontal regenerative surgery applying ErL irradiation for thorough debridement in bone defects as well as blood coagulation following autogenous bone grafting and observed excellent bone regeneration in severe bone defects in which favorable bone healing cannot be expected with conventional treatment modalities. The Er:YAG laser is currently applied as a useful device in periodontal therapy. In this paper, the effects of ErL in periodontal therapy and its recent applications in clinical practice are discussed based on scientific evidence.