Title Er:YAG Lasers Provide Little to No Improvement in Pocket Depth of Peri-implantitis
Clinical Question In an adult patient with peri-implantitis, does the use of Er:YAG lasers in conjunction with non-surgical therapy reduce pocket depth to a greater extent than non-surgical therapy alone?
Clinical Bottom Line There is insufficient evidence to determine whether ER:YAG lasers have a clinical effect in reducing pocket depth in conjunction with non-surgical therapy. Laser therapy has been compared to non-surgical therapy with equivocal results.
Best Evidence  
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type
(level of evidence)
25428598Yan/2014Randomized control trialsMeta-Analysis
Key resultsWhen comparing the a six month follow-up of treatment with Er:YAG lasers and subgingival mechanical debribement, laser treatment presented a significant reduction of pocket depth (p=0.018) with no significant differences in clinical attachment loss.
24476547Mailoa/2014Clinical Trials and Case SeriesMeta-Analysis
Key resultsPocket depth reduction of 0.00mm (CI=95%; -0.18 to 0.19; P=0.98) was shown between surface detoxification treatment groups and laser treatment.
Evidence Search ("peri-implantitis"[MeSH Terms] OR "peri-implantitis"[All Fields] OR ("peri"[All Fields] AND "implantitis"[All Fields]) OR "peri implantitis"[All Fields]) AND ("lasers"[MeSH Terms] OR "lasers"[All Fields])
Comments on
The Evidence
Validity Yan: In this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, the number of trials, patients and individual follow-up after a selected amount of time remains unclear. Mailoa: In this systematic review, seven clinical trials and two animal studies were involved. Follow-up was conducted beyond six months of treatment in a minimum of ten patients involved. Meta-analysis was conducted.
Applicability Although ER:YAG laser treatment has been shown to reduce pocket depth compared to to non-surgical therapy, there is insufficient evidence to determine its benefit in conjunction with non-surgical therapy.
Specialty (General Dentistry) (Periodontics)
Keywords Peri-implantitis, lasers, therapy
ID# 2843
Date of submission 03/24/2015
E-mail gutierrezmn@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Author Michelle Gutierrez
Co-author(s)
Co-author(s) e-mail
Faculty mentor Archie Jones, DDS, MBA
Faculty mentor e-mail jonesa@uthscsa.edu
   
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?)
None available
spacer
Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs)
None available