Comparison of Er:YAG laser and ultrasonic scaler in the treatment of moderate chronic periodontitis: a randomized clinical trial

Introduction: Periodontitis is an inflammatory periodontal disease that leads to tooth loss. Recently laser has been introduced as an alternative treatment for periodontitis. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of Erbium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet [Er:YAG] laser with ultrasonic scaler in patients with moderate chronic periodontitis

Methods: In this randomized single-blind clinical trial, 27 patients with moderate chronic periodontitis were selected. One quadrant of the patients was treated by Er:YAG laser and the other one by ultrasonic scaler. Clinical parameters, including periodontal pocket depth [PPD], papillary bleeding index [PBI] and clinical attachment level [CAL] were measured before, as well as 6 and 12 weeks after treatment. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 software using Friedman test, paired t test, independent t test and Mann-Whitney test. The significance level was set at 0.05

Results: The means of clinical parameters in both groups were significantly improved in the first and second follow-ups [P < 0.001]. Although the means of PPD, PBI and CAL were slightly higher in the laser group than in the ultrasonic group, the differences were not statistically significant between these two groups [P > 0.05]

Conclusion: Although both ultrasonic scaler and Er:YAG laser could effectively improve clinical periodontal parameters, the results did not reveal the superiority of Er:YAG laser over ultrasonic scaler or vice versa

Effect of Nd:YAG laser irradiation on the number of open dentinal tubules and their diameter with and without smear of graphite: an in vitro study

Dentin hypersensitivity [DH] is characterized by tooth pain arising from exposure of dental roots. In this study the efficiency of neodymium yttrium-aluminum-garnet [Nd:YAG] laser in association with graphite on dentinal surface changes as the alternative to the treatment of DH was evaluated. Sixteen noncarious human third molars were collected and sectioned into 5 parts from cementoenamel junction [CEJ] to the furcation area. The prepared samples were randomly assigned into five groups [Gs] of each 16: Control [G1], treated by Nd:YAG laser at 0.5 W [G2], irradiation of Nd:YAG with a 0.25 W output power[G3], smeared with graphite and then using Nd:YAG laser at output powers of 0.5 W [G4] and 0.25 W [G5]. For all groups the parameters were 15 Hz, 60 s, at two stages and with a right angle irradiation. The number and diameter of dentinal tubules [DT] were compared and analyzed by SPSS software, One way ANOVA and Post hoc LSD tests. The number of open dentinal tubules varied significantly between all groups except among G1 with G3 and G2 with G5. Multiple comparison tests also exhibited significant differences regarding the diameter of tubules between the groups two by two except among G2 with G5. Nd:YAG laser used at 0.25 W and 0.5 W with application of graphite smear was able to reduce the number and diameter of dentinal tubules

Efficacy of plaque control by tooth brushing with and without different dentifrices: a clinical trial

Objective: Microbial plaque is among the main etiologies of periodontal disease, and tooth brushing with toothpaste is the most commonly used method of plaque control. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of tooth brushing with and without three different dentifrices

Methods: Thirty dental students were randomly selected to participate in this clinical trial and were asked to refrain from any plaque control measure for 24 hours. Candidates were then randomly assigned to one of the three groups of tooth brushing with Pooneh whitening toothpaste, Crest 3D White, Sensodyne Original and tooth brushing without toothpaste. Subjects were asked to brush their teeth for two minutes using the Bass technique. Plaque index was calculated before and after the intervention. This process was repeated until all subjects experienced all the understudy interventional protocols [tooth brushing with three different toothpastes and without toothpaste]. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-test

Results: No statistically significant difference was noted in the efficacy of plaque control by tooth brushing with Crest 3D White and Sensodyne Original and tooth brushing without toothpaste; however, significant differences were noted in this respect between Pooneh toothpaste and the remaining three tooth brushing protocols [p

Conclusion: Tooth brushing without toothpaste may have a plaque control efficacy equal or even higher than that of tooth brushing with toothpaste

Clinical evaluation of the efficacy of neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet [Nd: YAG] laser therapy and Sensikin[Registered] in treatment of dentine hypersensitivity

Dentine hypersensitivity [DH] is characterized by a short sharp pain arising from the exposed dentine, in response to a thermal, evaporative, tactile, osmotic or chemical stimulus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Nd:YAG laser therapy and desensitizing gel [Sensikin[Registered], Laboratorios Kin S.A., Barcelona, Spain] in treatment of dentine hypersensitivity. A total of 20 patients with at least 6 hypersensitive teeth were selected and divided randomly into three groups: Nd:YAG laser [10 HZ, 1W, 60 S, two times] treated group, Sensikin[Registered] treated group and a control group. Subjects were asked to apply the gel at home for the next week and 3 times a day as they were instructed. Assessment of the pain was performed by visual analyzing scale [VAS] after stimulation of the teeth by compressed air at 6 intervals: before treatment, immediately after treatment, one week, one, three and six months later. The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS software, one way ANOVA and repeated measurement ANOVA tests. VAS scores did not show any significant differences between the three groups prior to treatment [P value>0.05], but in all groups after treatment VAS scores differed significantly in comparison to VAS scores before treatment [Pvalue<0.05]. This statistically significant difference in the control group demonstrated a placebo effect. However, the efficacy between the three groups was not significantly different. An overall comparison indicated no significant differences at various time intervals. Nd:YAG laser and desensitizing gel effectively reduce DH. However, we found no significant statistical differences between these two groups compared with the control group