Effect of low-level laser on guided tissue regeneration performed with equine bone and membrane in the treatment of intrabony defects: a clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical results of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) after the application of equine bone and membrane alone or combined with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the treatment of periodontal defects.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was an intra-individual longitudinal study of 6 months' duration conducted using a split-mouth and randomized design. In 13 periodontitis patients with bilateral intrabony periodontal defects, while one defect site was treated with GTR plus LLLT (1064 nm, 100 mW, with energy density of 4 J/cm(2)), the contralateral defect site was treated with guided GTR alone. GTR was performed with a combination of equine bone and membrane. LLLT was used both intra- and postoperatively. Clinical probing depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), clinical gingival recession level (REC), plaque index (PI) score, and sulcus blooding index (SBI) score were recorded at the time of surgery, and at the 3rd and 6th months after operation.
RESULTS: The treatment of periodontal intrabony defects with equine bone and membrane in the operation of GTR alone or GTR plus LLLT in combination led to statistically significant PPD reduction, CAL gain, and lower SBI score at the end of the study (p<0.05). In addition, between the two groups, GTR plus LLLT resulted in statistically significant lower REC (p=0.025), lower SBI (p=0.008) score, more reduction of PPD (p=0.009) and CAL gain (p=0.002) compared with GTR alone at 6th month control.
CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that GTR is an effective treatment for periodontal regeneration, and that LLLT may improve the effects of GTR in the treatment of periodontal defects.