A Study of the Diode Laser Phototherapy for Enhancing Healing and Reduction of Microbial Count in Periodontal Pockets within a Saudi Community

This research was carried out to assess Diode Laser(DL)therapeutic effects on chronic periodontitis, by reducing pockets depth and minimizing Microbial Counts (MCs). Patients(Pts)under study were 50Pts, they had chronic pockets periodontitis of more than 5mm depth, were divided into 35Pts study group(SG) and 15Pts control group(CG). All Pts were subjected to scaling, SG received DL therapy, CG received same treatment but instead of DL therapy irrigation with normal saline. The operation period (10weeks) were divided into: phase1 (baseline) at 1st week, phase2 (treatment sessions) at 2nd, 4th, and 6th week, and phase3 (follow up) at 10th week. Clinical parameters evaluation and MCs were detected during the operation period. Index of Bleeding on Probing (BOP) had been improved greatly in SG as 96.9%, while CG 20.5%. Plaque Index (PI), and Pocket Depths (PD), were more reduced in SG than CG. Colony Forming Units/ml (CFUs/ml) were reduced with DL therapy which revealed (400, 320, 250, 170 and 90) and (410, 350, 300, 260 and 190) for SG and CG respectively, that were confirmed SG were significantly better than CG. DL irradiation revealed anti-microbial effect and reduction of inflammation in periodontal pockets, also, combination with scaling, supports healing of periodontal pockets through microbial eliminating.