The results of 1328 periodontal pockets treated with the argon laser: selective pocket thermolysis.

A study of 30 randomly selected cases of type II-IV periodontitis was done from a group of 130 patients who had been treated with argon laser pocket thermolysis and root planing between January 1993 and April 1994. The group consisted of 12 males and 18 females with a mean age of 47. No antibiotics were taken 6 months prior or during the treatment. A pocket charting and bleeding index was done at a mean of 4.6 months after treatment. A total of 1328 pockets were treated using a 300-microns fiber in contact at 0.4 W for 20-30 sec per pocket with coaxial irrigation. The 4-5 mm pockets were reduced by 1.62 mm, 6-7 mm pockets by 2.85 mm, and 8-9 mm by 3.30 mm. The bleeding of probing was reduced by 75%. The mean postoperative pain medication was 400 mg/day of ibuprofen for 1-2 days. Laser pocket thermolysis with subgingival thermodynamic debridement may eliminate or greatly reduce the need for additional treatment. There is a great need for further investigation.