Photobiomodulation Laser Strategies in Periodontal Therapy

Laser is considered basically effective for treating periodontal diseases because of its excellent physical properties namely ablation, hemostasis, bacterial killing and cell stimulation. The current laser application mainly used for the treatment of periodontitis is high-power laser ablation (HLLT). Laser ablation of diseased periodontal tissues using the HLLT is widely performed, partly expecting a simultaneous photo-bio-modulation effect (LLLT) in the surrounding tissues. In periodontal pocket therapy, laser can not only ablate the diseased tissues but also stimulate or activate the surrounding gingival and bone tissues, which would result in improved pocket healing and tissue regeneration. By elucidating the photo-biomodulation effect in detail, this effect could be used more effectively and laser therapy would be more advantageous in non-surgical and surgical therapies of periodontitis as an adjunctive or alternative means to current mechanical treatment. As a future strategy of periodontal therapy, the photo-therapy using photo-biomodulation/activation and photo-dynamic effects could be developed increasingly for prevention and control of periodontal diseases.