A comparative evaluation of the efficacy of diode laser as an adjunct to mechanical debridement versus conventional mechanical debridement in periodontal flap surgery: a clinical and microbiological study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Research has shown that mechanical methods of periodontal therapy alone may fail to eliminate the tissue-invasive pathogenic flora; therefore, considerable attention has been given to adjunctive antimicrobial measures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of diode laser as an adjunct to mechanical debridement in periodontal flap surgery, on the basis of clinical parameters and microbiological analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 patients with generalized chronic periodontitis with probing depth >5 mm after phase I therapy were included in the study. Diode laser was used as an adjunct to open flap debridement (test) as compared with conventional flap surgery (control) in a split-mouth study design. Clinical parameters (plaque and gingival index, probing depth and relative clinical attachment level) and subgingival plaque samples of test and control groups were analyzed at baseline and 3 months post-therapy. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to determine patient discomfort intraoperatively and after 1 week. RESULTS: The difference between the clinical parameters in the test and control groups did not reach a statistical significance. However, there was a statistically significant reduction in colony forming units (CFU) of obligate anaerobes in the test group as compared with the control group. The diode laser was well tolerated by the patients, as determined by the VAS. CONCLUSIONS: The bactericidal effect of the diode laser was clearly evident by greater reduction of CFU of obligate anaerobes in the test group than in the control group.

Evaluation of blood parameters in patients with chronic periodontitis for signs of anemia.

BACKGROUND: Anemia of chronic disease is defined as anemia occurring in chronic infections and inflammatory conditions that is not caused by marrow deficiencies or other diseases and in the presence of adequate iron stores and vitamins. Periodontitis is a chronic infectious condition of the supporting tissues of the teeth caused by subgingival microbial colonization in susceptible hosts. This study determines the correlation between signs of anemia and chronic periodontitis. METHODS: A total of 60 systemically healthy male patients, mean age 38 years, were included in the study. Of these, 30 patients were healthy controls and 30 patients had severe periodontitis. Red blood cell parameters were evaluated from peripheral blood samples. RESULTS: Data analysis shows that patients with chronic periodontitis had lower values of hematocrit, number of erythrocytes, and hemoglobin compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study show that patients suffering from chronic periodontitis have a lower number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin compared to healthy controls. Thus, based on these results it can be concluded that, like any other chronic condition, chronic periodontitis can lead to anemia.