Effect of soft laser and bioactive glass on bone regeneration in the treatment of infra-bony defects (a clinical study).

This study aimed to investigate the influence of low-power 830 nm gallium-aluminium-arsenide (GaAlAs) laser [continuous wave (CW) 40 mW and fluence 4 J/cm(2), with total energy density of 16 J/cm(2)] on the healing of human infra-bony defects treated with bioactive glass graft material. Twenty patients with chronic periodontitis and bilateral infra-bony defects were included. Using a split mouth design, we treated 20 defects with bioactive glass plus laser irradiation during surgical procedures and on days 3, 5, 7 postoperatively; 20 contra-lateral defects were treated with bioactive glass only. Clinical probing pocket depths, clinical attachment levels and standardized periapical radiographs were recorded at baseline and at 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. At 3 months there was a statistically significant difference between the laser and non-laser sites in the parameters investigated. However, at 6 months, no difference was observed. Our results have confirmed the positive effect of soft laser in accelerating periodontal wound healing.