One-year clinical outcomes following non-surgical treatment of peri-implant mucositis with adjunctive diode laser application.

BACKGROUND: Limited information is available on the application of diode laser in the treatment of peri-implant diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of the adjunctive application of diode laser in the non-surgical treatment of peri-implant mucositis during a 12-month follow-up period. METHODS: The sample was composed of 73 systemically healthy patients with one implant diagnosed with peri-implant mucositis (bleeding on probing [BoP] with no loss of supporting bone). Implants were randomly assigned to mechanical debridement with hand and powered instruments and 980-nm diode laser application (test group, N.=38) or mechanical debridement alone (control group, N.=35). At the completion of active treatment patients were included in a periodontal maintenance program. Recalls were provided every three months in both treatment groups for reinforcement in oral hygiene instructions and professional implant cleaning with rubber cups. Baseline parameters were repeated at 3 and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Intragroup analysis showed that plaque index, BoP and probing depth presented statistically significant improvements when compared with baseline values (all P<0.001). No statistically significant difference in clinical outcomes was observed between treatment groups at each time point. At 12 months no significant difference in the percentage of sites showing BoP resolution was observed between test (60.9%) and control treatment (52.6%), as well. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the present results, the adjunct use of diode laser showed little but not statistically significant additional benefits in the treatment of peri-implant mucositis after an observation period of one year.

Prevalence of periodontitis in an adult population from an urban area in North Italy: findings from a cross-sectional population-based epidemiological survey.

AIM: There is a paucity of up-to-date data regarding prevalence and risk indicators of periodontitis in Italy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of periodontitis and its risk indicators among adults from an urban area in North Italy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional survey used a stratified two-stage probability sampling method to draw a representative sample of the adult population of the city of Turin. About 1600 individuals, 20-75 years old, were randomly selected and 736 subjects agreed to participate (47% of the sampled subjects). Clinical parameters were assessed using a full-mouth protocol. Logistic models were applied to assess associations between periodontitis and its putative risk indicators. Age was included as restricted cubic spline. RESULTS: Based on CDC/AAP case definition, the prevalence estimates of severe and moderate periodontitis were 34.94% (95% CI: 31.23-38.74) and 40.78% (95% CI: 36.89-44.79). The probability of periodontitis increased in smokers (adjusted OR 2.06, 95% IC: 1.26-3.37, p = 0.004) and with age but leveled off in the 50+ year-old group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Periodontitis was highly prevalent in the Turin population. The present data will enable development of appropriate public health programs and allocation of resources.