Comparative Study on the Clinical Efficacy and Patient Comfort of Laser-Assisted Periodontal Therapy versus Conventional Scaling and Root Planing

Abstract

Introduction: Periodontal disease is a prevalent oral health condition that typically necessitates scaling and root planing (SRP) for effective management. While conventional SRP has long been the gold standard, advancements in laser-assisted periodontal therapy have introduced promising alternatives with potential improvements in both clinical outcomes and patient comfort. This study took place at Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi, Pakistan, and aimed to compare how effective and comfortable laser-assisted periodontal therapy is compared to traditional SRP over a 12-month period.

Materials and Methods: Two groups were randomly assigned from a total of 117 individuals diagnosed with mild to severe chronic periodontitis during April 2023 to April 2024. Group B received laser-assisted periodontal treatment using a diode laser (wavelength: 980 nm) in combination with limited mechanical debridement, while Group A underwent traditional SRP using ultrasonic and manual instruments. Clinical parameters—including Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), Bleeding on Probing (BOP), and Gingival Index (GI)—were recorded at baseline, and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up intervals. Patient comfort was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at multiple postoperative time points, including immediately after the procedure and at 24 hours, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Statistical analysis involved chi-square tests, correlation analysis, independent t-tests, and paired t-tests, with a p-value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Both treatment groups demonstrated significant improvement in periodontal clinical parameters over time. In the laser group, PPD reduced from 6.3 ± 1.2 mm at baseline to 3.8 ± 0.6 mm at 12 months (p = 0.001), and CAL improved from 6.0 ± 1.1 mm to 3.7 ± 0.5 mm (p = 0.002). GI decreased from 2.1 ± 0.4 to 1.1 ± 0.2 (p = 0.004), while BOP was reduced from 77.9% to 34.5% (p = 0.003). In the SRP group, PPD decreased from 6.2 ± 1.1 mm to 4.2 ± 0.7 mm, and CAL improved from 5.9 ± 1.0 mm to 4.0 ± 0.5 mm over the same period. Patients in the laser group reported significantly lower pain levels on the VAS, indicating superior postoperative comfort.

Conclusion: Laser-assisted periodontal therapy demonstrated superior clinical outcomes and enhanced patient comfort compared to conventional SRP. These findings support the integration of laser therapy as an effective adjunctive modality in periodontal treatment protocols. Further studies with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up durations are recommended to confirm and expand upon these results.