Role of diode lasers (800-980 nm) as adjuncts to scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to systematically review currently available evidence regarding the role of diode lasers (810-980 nm) as adjuncts to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis (CP). BACKGROUND DATA: Mechanical instrumentation of periodontal tissues followed by diode laser application leads to complete removal of pocket epithelium compared with conventional SRP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To address the focused question "Is SRP with adjunct diode lasers (810-980 nm) therapy more effective in the treatment of CP than when CP is treated by SRP alone?" databases were searched using the following key words: chronic periodontitis, diode laser, surgical, AND scaling and root planing, periodontal diseases, periodontal therapy, AND periodontal treatment. Original studies were included. Letters to the editor, case reports, commentaries, and reviews were excluded. RESULTS: Ten clinical studies were included. In all studies, patients were systemically healthy, and cigarette smokers were included in two studies. In five studies, SRP plus diode laser application was more effective in the treatment of CP than SRP, and three studies showed no difference. In two studies, there was a moderate reduction in periodontal inflammation using SRP plus diode laser. The diameter of optic fiber, laser wavelengths, power, pulse repetition rate, and duration of laser exposure ranged between 300 mum and 2 mm, 810-980 nm, 0.8-2.5 W, 10-60 Hz, and 10-100 ms, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In CP patients with probing depths </=5 mm, diode lasers, SRP plus diode laser (800-980 nm) is more effective in the treatment of CP than when SRP is used alone.