TY - JOUR A1 - Sudhakar, Uma A1 - , Satyanarayana A1 - Thilagar, Sivasankari A1 - Suresh, Snophia T1 - Clinical efficacy of low-level laser therapy as an adjunct to nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis Y1 - 2015/1/1 JF - Journal of Dental Lasers JO - J Dent Lasers SP - 31 EP - 37 VL - 9 IS - 1 UR - http://www.jdentlasers.org/article.asp?issn=2321-1385;year=2015;volume=9;issue=1;spage=31;epage=37;aulast=Sudhakar DO - 10.4103/0976-2868.157597 N2 - Aims and Objective : In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of dental lasers for the treatment of periodontal diseases. The purpose of this randomized, split-mouth clinical trial was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as an adjunct to conventional scaling and root planning (SRP). Materials and Methods: A total of 10 patients with untreated chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned in a split-mouth design to receive SRP with or without adjunctive LLLT. Clinical parameters including plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth were recorded at baseline, 1 st month and 3 rd month after the treatment. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected for the assay of interleukin-1b (IL-1b) levels at baseline, 1 st week and 1 st month. Results: Both laser and control sides showed a significant reduction in IL-1b levels in GCF at 1 st week and 1 st month (P < 0.001). On comparing, laser sides showed a significant reduction in IL-1b levels at 1 st week (P = 0.041). No significant difference in IL-1b levels were found between laser and control sides at 3 rd month (P = 0.450). All the clinical parameters showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) at 1 st and 3 rd month after the treatment between laser and control sides. Conclusion: The present study suggests that LLLT could be a beneficial adjunct to nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis on a short-term basis. ER -