Background and objective: The purpose of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to evaluate the efficiency of erbium-doped:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser adjunct to nonsurgical periodontal debridement on clinical periodontal parameters and red complex periodontopathogens. Materials and methods: Thirty-eight systematically healthy, never-smoker patients with chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned to one of two groups in a parallel design: 1-scaling and root planing (SRP) and 2-SRP + Laser (SRP + L). SRP and SRP + L administration were completed within 24 h. Clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), plaque index (PI), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded at baseline and 3 and 6 months after treatment. Subgingival plaque samples were also measured 1 month after treatment. Microbiological evaluation was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: All clinical parameters significantly improved 3 and 6 months after treatment in both groups. In the deep and moderately deep pockets, PD reduction and CAL gain between baseline and 6 months were significantly different between the groups (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences regarding BOP and PI between the groups. There were no statistically significant differences in Pg, Tf, and Td levels between the SRP and SRP + L groups at any time point (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Within the limits of this randomized clinical trial, the adjunctive use of Er:YAG laser with SRP may be beneficial in moderately deep and deep pockets to improve CAL and PD. However, Er:YAG laser failed to demonstrate additional microbiological benefits in nonsurgical periodontal treatment. Clinicaltrials.gov #NCT03387371.
Keywords: Er:YAG laser; SRP; chronic periodontitis.