Assessment of clinical efficacy of 445 nm Diode laser as an adjunct to Kirkland flap surgery in the management of periodontitis – a split mouth randomized clinical trial

Aim of this study is to assess the clinical efficacy of 445 nm Diode laser as an adjunct to Kirkland flap surgery in management of periodontitis. Type of study is a Split mouth clinical trial in which a total of 13 patients were recruited based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. In each participant, random allocation of selected sites into test and control in contralateral quadrants was done. Clinical parameters such as probing depth and clinical attachment loss was measured in control and test sites using occlusal stents. Flap surgery was carried out 6 weeks after phase I therapy and the selected contralateral sites with a probing depth of > 5mm were subjected to surgical therapy. In a test quadrant, 445 nm diode laser with a power of 0.8 W, CW mode, 320 µm fiber, in non-contact mode was used as an adjunct to flap surgery. Primary outcome variable assessed was change in PPD between baseline, pre-operative, 1-, 3- and 6-months post-surgery. Secondary outcomes variables assessed were Clinical attachment loss at baseline, pre-operative, 1, 3 and 6 months, visual analog scale at days 3 and 7 and patient satisfaction index at day 7 post surgery. Surgery for the second site (Test/control) in the contralateral quadrants was performed 1 week after the first surgery. A higher reduction in probing depth and gain in CAL was observed in test site at 1, 3 and 6 months follow up amongst all the included participants. VAS score was lower at the test site as compared to the control sites. PSI scores were similar in both the sites. The adjunctive use of 445nm diode laser to surgical periodontal therapy contributed to improved short term clinical outcomes as assessed at the end of 6 months post- surgery. VAS score indicative of post -surgical discomfort were also lower for the laser treated sites. Hence adjunctive use of laser (445 nm wavelength) can be recommended for achieving more predictable clinical outcomes.