The Use Of Lasers in Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy

By Denise M. Bowen, RDH, MS (deceased)

The objectives of nonsurgical periodontal therapy are to eliminate or reduce periodontal pockets, decrease bleeding on probing and suppuration, and maintain or gain clinical attachment.^1,2 Because periodontal diseases are opportunistic infections influenced by the host response, therapy must be anti-infective. Adequate patient self-care and mechanical debridement by dental hygienists are important to the success of nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Other approaches, including antimicrobials and lasers, are considered adjuncts.³They are intended to target microbial colonies and change the microflora in areas less effectively reached by mechanical therapy.¹ Lasers produce light energy that penetrates tissues and produces thermal effects. This modality is used in nonsurgical periodontal therapy for soft tissue debridement (curettage), hemostasis, microbial inhibition or destruction, and biologic responses to therapy.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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