Periodontal Associates of North Florida

On our website and social media channels, we have thoroughly explained why and how oral surgery is beneficial. Here’s a reason that has gone unmentioned: it will make you appreciate the solid foods and acidic drinks that you aren’t able to eat or drink immediately after your procedure.  Sandwiches, chips, and orange juice should all be avoided after your wisdom tooth removal, dental implant surgery, orthagnathic surgery etc. Too much chewing can possibly re-open the sensitive areas of your mouth, and can cause bleeding or even infection. But don’t worry – we have a few healthy food and beverage recommendations when your mouth is delicate.

First 24 Hours

For the first 24 hours after your surgery, your teeth/jaw will need some time off. Therefore, smoothies, low-fat jello/puddings, and cold soups will be the most beneficial for your healing process. It is extremely important to refrain from using a straw, as the sucking causes excess strain, which ultimately can delay the healing process. Here are a few recommendations:

Banana Mango Shake- A healthy, filling way to start the day after your surgery. Also, bananas help replace electrolytes and maintain fluid balance within your body.

Applesauce- You can’t eat apples, but this is the next best thing!

Tomato Soup- A great snack even when your mouth isn’t sensitive.

Cold Pasta- Ever tried a Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Orzo? Might be the perfect time to expand your taste buds!

Next Few Weeks

Over the next few weeks, you will start easing into enjoying solid foods again. Here are some tasty transitional foods (some can even help the healing process!)

Broccoli Omelet: Who would’ve thought thathealing from oral surgery could be so healthy? Broccoli contains enough calcium to speed up the healing process, and the eggs provide enough protein to make this a fully substantial meal while taking it easy on your teeth/jaw.

Chicken Salad: Finally some real meat! Chicken that is chopped up into small pieces can be eaten with a salad, or even a cold pasta. The chicken provides the protein, while the salad (with soft vegetables) provides the healthy goodness.

Chicken Pesto Pasta: Believe it or not, this dish can prevent oral infection. The basil in pesto contains volatile oils, which can protect the mouth from oral bacteria. The last thing your mouth needs after oral surgery is oral bacteria.

We hope that these recommendations help! We genuinely want you to heal as quickly as possibly while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Feel free to call Colón with any questions about the post oral surgery process.

It’s easy for people to not realize what they have until it’s gone. Imagine what it would be like if you were missing one of your front teeth? You’d probably be a bit embarrassed smiling and talking, and not to mention eating would feel pretty abnormal as well. The good news is that taking preventative measures to protect your smile can diminish the chances of you having a toothless smile.

Wearing a mouth guard when playing sports decreases the risk of injuries to the mouth or jaw. Some sports players don’t like to wear mouth guards because of the inconvenience of their appearance while wearing one, but more injuries can happen when not wearing a mouth guard that can affect your appearance in a much more inconvenient way. Here are five reasons why you should always protect your pearly whites when participating in any contact sports or collision sports where unexpected contact can happen:

1. Protection Against Tooth Fractures

Mouth guards protect your teeth from chipping and breaking. Even though tooth fractures can usually be saved, why go through the risk when wearing a mouth guard can save you all the trouble.

2. Protection Against Tooth Replacement

Wearing a mouth guard is cushion for your teeth, so if a ball hits your face your teeth don’t receive a crushing force. However, if a ball hits your mouth without a mouth guard, it can result in completely breaking or ruining your tooth, leaving you with a toothless smile and an emergency call to [REPOST-DR-NAME]’s office. Having a gap in your smile due to an accident that could have been prevented isn’t worth it.

3. Protection Against Soft Tissue Injuries

Some contact sports involve quick impacts that could leave you biting through your tongue or lips! A mouth guard can prevent soft tissue injuries by creating a soft resistance from teeth contacting your lips and tongue.

4. Protection Against Concussions

According to the American Dental Association, mouth guards could help reduce the severity and incidence concussions. A properly fitted mouth guard decreases the likelihood of sustaining concussive injury because the padding between the mandible and the maxilla can lessen the force of the mandible pushing up on the skull near the brain, which causes a concussion.

5. Protection Against Jaw Fractures

Wearing a protective mouth guard protects you from jaw fractures. Impact to the neck or jaw could result in serious injury, but with the protection of a mouth guard during an impact, it reduces the likelihood of jaw dislodgement or neck trauma.

The Academy of General Dentistry estimates that mouth guards prevent more than 200,000 injuries each year! Using a mouth guard won’t only help prevent you from dental and jaw injuries but can also prevent damage to braces or other orthodontic work. If you’re ready to take the step to save your smile when playing sports, contact [REPOST-DR-NAME] for more information about mouth guard protection.

Have your gums ever bled when brushing them? Bleeding gums is one of the first tell tale signs of periodontal disease when brushing or flossing. Many people experience bleeding gums when practicing oral hygiene but simply assume it is from brushing too hard or not flossing enough. However, bleeding of the gums is not normal and should be considered a red warning sign of gum disease. In order to actually bleed just from brushing your teeth and damage healthy tissue, you’d have to be brushing extremely hard. If your gums regularly bleed when brushing your teeth, we recommend calling Colón for an oral cancer exam. Curious about what other warning signs might be? We’ve listed them for you below:

The Warning Signs:

–Bleeding gums during/after tooth brushing or flossing

–Red, swollen, or tender gums: changes in the appearance of gum tissue or sensitivity to gums is another common symptom. Some cases may also lead to receding gums when the tissues are very thin.

–Persistent bad breathe: besides bleeding gums, bad breath is one of the most common signs. Bad flossing habits can lead to plaque collecting in the area between teeth making them especially prone to gum inflammation. Another symptom similar to this is a bad taste in the mouth that won’t go away.

–Loose or shifting teeth: for some that have Periodontal Disease and are unaware, they may experience movement or migration of their teeth. The rate of movement will depend on the particular type of gum disease you may have. This can make major changes to the way your teeth fit together and your smile overall.

Gum disease can progress painlessly, producing few of these obvious signs, even in the later stages of the disease. While many of the symptoms of gum disease are typically subtle, Colón recommends an oral cancer screening during regular check ups with your Dentist or Periodontist. This serious dental disease, which pertains to the mouth, lips and throat, is often highly curable if diagnosed and treated in the early stages.

Depending on the type of gum disease, some of the available treatment options include:

-Removal of plaque and calculus through scaling

-Medication

-Surgery in order to stop or minimize the progression

If you are concerned that you may have gum disease, contact Colón to schedule a consultation and learn more about the disea

Most patients see dental implants as a procedure that is perfect for replacing one or two teeth. They don’t, however, conclude that a dental implant surgery is the solution for missing an entire row of teeth. In this instance, most people are still reverting to the outdated methods of receiving dentures. But there is actually an efficient way to obtain a mouth full of secure teeth through the dental implant process. This new technique is called “implant supported dentures,” which gives patients new reasons to smile.

A Team of 4 is Stronger Than 15 Individuals

I know what you’re probably thinking. “Wouldn’t it be a long, grueling process to take in 15 or so dental implants in the same surgery?” That is hard to argue with. A mouth with 20 dental implants drilled into it seems like too many metal rods for one person to own. They probably wouldn’t be allowed on airplanes. This is why oral surgeons now have a procedure where they use 4 titanium implants to connect an entire row of teeth. Picture it as 4 pillars with metal bridges connecting them. On the metal bridges is were the fully customized row of teeth will be placed.

Too Real to be Called Artificial

The word “artificial” is misleading when describing the new set of teeth. These teeth are now permanent, and will be treated the same as natural teeth. They need to be well maintained as regular teeth do, and cannot be taken out. It is impossible to distinguish implant-supported dentures from natural teeth. Even oral surgeons would have trouble picking apart the differences. Most patients are concerned with not being able to enjoy food like they used to. These new rows of teeth know when they encounter hot and cold food, and can still bite through the roughest of surfaces. Ultimately, “new and improved” is an acceptable replacement for “artificial” when describing implant supported dentures.

The Time is Now

The oral surgeons who are trained at this process are able to have the patient’s teeth completed in roughly 2.5 hours. This surgery leads to lifelong fulfillment of having a lively smile, so this may be the most productive 2.5 hours ever spent. When the entirety of one’s mouth looks like it’s ready for a makeover, implant supported dentures are the key to rebuilding.

When we see celebrities walking on the red carpet with their dazzling smiles, it’s hard to believe that their teeth were ever imperfect. Unfavorable teeth, however, were common for many of today’s hottest stars. They realized the magnanimous impact a beautiful smile could make, and took action. Lets look at a few celebrities who transformed their smiles into superstars.

                                                                                    50 Cent

In the hip hop industry, rappers are continuously searching for ways to ridicule the competition. When rapper 50 cent realized that his teeth were becoming the laughing stock of the rap business, he decided to straighten things out- literally. He fixed his disproportionate teeth by receiving an entirely new set. Now, 50 cent can officially say he is shining from head to toe.

                                                                                                     Matthew Lewis:

We all remember the chubby, crooked teethed “Neville Longbottom” in the Harry Potter movies. Matthew Lewis, who played Longbottom, was told on his contract that he must not fix his teeth or lose weight. Sadly, the teenager who was on set with numerous attractive women, was forced to maintain his unattractive appearance for the greater good of the legendary Harry Potter saga. Once his role in Harry Potter was ceased, he immediately fixed his teeth, which made him unrecognizable in comparison to his teenage days. Changing your teeth can change the overall nature of your look, as shown below:

                                                                             Miley Cyrus

Lets pretend that we aren’t familiar with Miley’s recent media meltdown, and simply focus on her improvements over the years. When she started as a Disney channel actress, most viewed her as the perfect child. Unfortunately, her teeth were miles from perfection. While her current persona may be a bit crooked, her teeth are perfectly straightened, which she credits her dentist for.

For many celebrities, the first task at hand after being nationally endorsed is fixing their teeth. Their publicists and stylists all admit that superstardom does not align with uneven teeth. But celebrities aren’t the only ones who promptly need beautiful teeth.

It seems that evidence mounts daily identifying a link between your oral health and the health of the rest of your body. In this blog article we will explore the specific connection between your gum health and Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease affecting about 1.5 million \ Americans that causes chronic inflammation of the joints and other areas of the body. The result is often debilitating pain, reduced flexibility and, in some cases, erosion of the surrounding bone.

Periodontal disease refers to advanced bacterial infection of the gums. It generally follows gingivitis that is left untreated for an extended period of time. If allowed to continue without professional treatment, severe gum disease can lead to dramatic recession of the gums, tooth loss and damage to the bones of the jaw.

The Inflammation Connection

The exact nature of the link between these two diseases is still being researched. Scientists originally pointed to bacteria as the leading factor; however, more recent research shows that inflammation is might likely responsible for the association. What is clear at this point, is that the connection does exist and treatment for periodontal disease is strongly recommended for patients with RA.

Preventing Periodontal Disease and Its Affects on RA

Due to the connection between diseases, proper oral hygiene has become a key component in treatment plans for arthritis sufferers. It is believed that reducing inflammation in the gums can help decrease their joint pain and fatigue related to RA. Unfortunately, oral health habits can be exceedingly difficult for arthritic joints in their hands. The American Dental Association has offered these recommendations for their hygiene routines:

• Try an electric toothbrush. A quality electric brush with a large handle allows for a better grip and can clean teeth and gums effectively, without as much hand motion.
• Consider floss holders. If traditional flossing methods are difficult, RA patients are encouraged to try angled floss holders. These plastic devices are affordable and easy-to-find.
• Protect yourself with mouthwash. An RA patient generally needs extra oral protection than a healthy patient. A fluoridated mouthwash, used 2-3 times per day, can help keep bacteria at bay.
• Avoid smoking. Besides putting themselves at risk of host of other medical conditions, smokers are much more likely to develop gum disease.

If you are patient suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis, please don’t hesitate to us with any questions or for advice regarding your oral health routines.

Did you know that the toothbrush is one of the oldest tools that humans still use? In fact, in a survey conducted in 2003, Americans chose the toothbrush as the number one invention over the car, personal computer, cell phone, and microwave. This may come as a shock in a day and age obsessed with technology, but it just goes to show how much value we place on our pearly whites. But it makes you wonder… how have people kept their teeth clean throughout the centuries? How did the toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss come into existence and how have they evolved over time?

One would assume that the first toothbrush was surely the finger, but evidence has shown that as far back at 3500 BC to 3000 BC chewing sticks were used in Babylonia. These chewing sticks were essentially a stick from an astringent tree with a frayed end that acted as bristles to clean teeth. These chewing sticks have also been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. Their predecessors are still commonly used in certain areas of the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America and are known as miswak or mswaki sticks.

When excavating Ur in Mesopotamia, ornately decorated toothpicks were found that dated back to 3000 BC. Other archaeological digs have recovered various tree twigs, bird feathers, animal bones, and porcupine quills as the earliest toothbrushes and toothpicks. An ancient Sanskrit text on surgery dating back to the 6^th century describes severe periodontal disease and stresses oral hygiene; “the stick for brushing the teeth should be either an astringent or pungent bitter. One of its ends should be chewed in the form of a brush. It should be used twice a day, taking care that the gums not be injured.” Pretty sound advice, even by current standards! Ancient Greek and Roman literature referenced the use of toothpicks to keep their mouths clean, and ancient Roman aristocrats kept special slaves for the sole purpose of cleaning their teeth. Imagine that job!

Ancient Chinese writings from around 1600 BC portray chewing sticks that were derived from aromatic trees and sharpened at one end to act as a toothpick. In the thirteenth century, the Chinese began to attach boar bristles to bamboo, essentially fashioning the first toothbrush. The optimal choice for bristles was taken from the back of the necks of cold climate boars, generally found in Siberia. Traders introduced these toothbrushes to the West and they quickly gained popularity. At that time Europeans were brushing their teeth by dipping a linen cloth or sponge in sulfur oils and salt solutions to rub away tooth grime. This was referred to as “The Greek Way”, as Aristotle had recommended this method to Alexander the Great. As these toothbrushes spread from East to West, in the West they preferred softer horse hairs over the coarse boar bristles, yet horses were deemed too valuable for the sake of toothbrushes, making boar bristles popular well into the early 1900’s.

Fast-forward to 1780 and we meet a man named William Addis of Clerkenwald, England. Addis was sitting in Newgate Prison for allegedly inciting a riot. The method for brushing teeth in jail was to take a rag and dip it in a solution of soot and salt and rub it onto the teeth. Addis believed there had to be a more efficient way, so while he passed his time in jail he began to think up solutions. Spying a broom, inspiration struck him and he took a small animal bone leftover from his meal and drilled holes into it. He then tied some swine fibers into bunches, strung them through the holes, and glued them into place. At this time in Georgian England, refined sugar was being shipped in from the West Indies in mass quantities. This caused a huge increase in the consumption of sugar for Londoners who then suffered from rotting teeth, the only treatment for which was to pull the infected teeth. When Addis was released from jail, he went on to market and sell his toothbrush under the name Wisdom Toothbrushes, which went on to become a very successful business that is still around today.

Toothbrushes continued to be made with animal bone handles and more often than not, boar bristles, although fancy toothbrushes were made with badger hair for those who could afford them. Celluloid handles were introduced in the 1900’s and quickly replaced bone handles. In the 1920’s a new method of attaching bristles to the handle was developed: holes were drilled into the brush head, bunches of bristles were then forced through the holes, and secured with a staple. This method is the same method that is commonly used today.

The next evolution in toothbrushes occurred when Wallace H. Carothers of Du Pont Laboratories invented nylon in 1937. Nylon bristles quickly overtook animal hair bristles for sanitation and cost-effective purposes. Although boar hair bristles often fall out, do not dry well, and are prone to bacterial growth, they strangely still account for 10% of the toothbrushes sold worldwide. The new nylon bristled toothbrushes were sold as “Doctor West’s Miracle-Tuft Toothbrush” due to its more hygienic properties.

With World War II looming in the background, British and American housewives were instructed to waste nothing, which translated to no more bone handles for toothbrushes. Bone handles had long been popular for things like toothbrushes, knives, guns, and handles for many more items. The shift to celluloid was a natural progression as soup bones were needed more than ornate bone handles. World War II gave oral hygiene an unexpected boost. The soldiers in World War II were expected to brush twice daily, a habit they brought home with them, likely due to the fact that Trench Mouth had become so rampant during World War I.

And what about toothpaste? Well, ancient Egyptians were making a “tooth powder” as far back as 5000 B.C.E. It was made from ox hooves, myrrh, eggshell fragments, and pumice. No device was found with the remnants of the tooth powder, which is why it is assumed that the finger was the first actual toothbrush. Other early tooth powders contained mixtures of powdered salt, pepper, mint leaves, and iris flowers. In Roman times, urine was used as a base for toothpaste. And since urine contains ammonia it was likely an effective whitening agent. In later times, homemade tooth powder was made of chalk, pulverized brick and salt. It is said that Napoleon Bonaparte regularly brushed his teeth with an opium-based toothpaste. In 1873, Colgate mass-produced the first toothpaste in a jar called Crème Dentifrice. By 1896, Colgate Dental Cream was packaged in collapsible tubes. Finally, by 1900, a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda was developed, and by 1914 fluoride was introduced and added to the majority of toothpastes on the market at that time.

And what of floss? Researchers have found floss and toothpick grooves in the teeth of prehistoric humans. But it wasn’t until 1815 when a New Orleans dentist named Levi Spear Parmly promoted flossing with a piece of silk thread that floss really gained notoriety. Levi went on to be credited for inventing the first form of dental floss. By 1882 the Codman and Shurtleft Company of Randolph, Massachusetts began mass-producing unwaxed silk floss for commercial use. In 1898 Johnson & Johnson received the first patent for dental floss.  Dr. Charles C. Bass then developed nylon floss, which performed better than silk because of its elasticity. Today floss is still made of nylon.

Who would’ve thought that the history of dental care would be so fascinating? And who would’ve guessed that the toothbrush we use today evolved from a stick and was perfected by a convict? Today, there are over 3,000 patents worldwide for toothbrushes. Regardless of how they got here, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss are a necessity in our daily lives.

We’ve all heard of Gingivitis, most likely on flashy television commercials proclaiming prevention and cures, or by receiving a warning from your dentist, but do you really know what Gingivitis is and how to prevent and treat it?

Gingivitis is a form of periodontal (gum) disease. It causes inflammation and infection in the tissues of your teeth and gums, as well as in the periodontal ligaments (which attach your teeth to bone) and the tooth sockets, which means bad news for your gums and teeth.

It’s the long-term effects of plaque deposits on your teeth that cause Gingivitis, which is why it’s so important to brush and floss daily. Plaque, a mixture of bacteria, mucus, and food debris, cultivates on the surface of your teeth, causing tooth decay. If plaque is not removed it turns into tartar (also called calculus) that gets trapped at the base of your teeth, causing swollen, tender, and infected gums. Left untreated, Gingivitis causes your gums to recede, spoiling that pretty smile of yours.

Brushing and flossing daily helps remove plaque before it turns into tartar, which, if left to its own devices, is more difficult to remove and can create a shield locking in bacteria. At this point, only your dentist can remove it, which is why it’s so important to maintain bi-yearly dental cleanings.

If left untreated, Gingivitis can turn into Periodontitis, (the progressive loss of the soft tissue and bone that support your teeth) which can lead to loosening teeth and subsequent tooth loss. By simply brushing and flossing daily, and seeing your dentist every six months, you can save yourself thousands of dollars in possible dental implant and denture costs, not to mention ensure the quality of your pearly whites.

Certain factors that increase your risk for Gingivitis:

Dental Factors

• Bad oral health habits
• Misaligned teeth
• Ill-fitted dental restorations

Health Factors

• Poor nutrition
• Genetics
• Diabetes
• Substance abuse
• Certain viral and fungal infections
• Older age – more common after age 35
• Certain medications such as antidepressants, heart medications, and others (talk to your Periodontist about whether or not your medications put you at risk)
• Smoking – we all know smoking is bad for your health, but did you know that over time it breaks down your gums and your jawbone?
• Decreased immunity from illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, leukemia, and other conditions
• Gender – women are more susceptible than men due to hormonal changes caused by monthly menstrual cycle, oral contraceptives, and pregnancy

Risks of Gingivitis

• Diabetes (both type 1 and 2)
• Heart disease
• Women with periodontitis have an increased risk of birthing premature babies, or babies with low birth weight versus women with healthy gums.
• Increased risk of heart attack, stroke and lung disease

Symptoms

• Painful, tender, and swollen gums
• Bleeding gums, especially when flossing and/or brushing
• Bright red to purple-pink gums (as opposed to healthy pink)
• Shiny gums
• Mouth sores
• Receding gums
• Puffy, soft gums
• Bad breath

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible, and follow up with regular cleanings. The moral of the story is: all you need to prevent Gingivitis is good dental hygiene – brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. Warm salt water and antibacterial rinses can also be used to help reduce gum swelling.

You may have heard the term “edentulous”, a term that describes someone that has no teeth. Incredibly, more than 35 million Americans do not have any teeth. Despite advances in dentistry, this number is expected to grow in the next two decades along with an aging baby boomer generation. Tooth loss commonly results from decay and gum disease.

Up until now, the only option for edentulous patients has been dentures. Their history is a long one. Scientists have found evidence of early dentures, dating back to 700 BC in present-day northern Italy, made of human and animal teeth. Over the years, the materials changed, but the inconvenience of ill-fitting dentures did not.

While dentures are extremely common, most patients find them uncomfortable and awkward. They can make daily tasks most of us take for granted, like talking and eating, difficult.

Presently, dental implants are rapidly becoming the standard of care. The biggest difference in the patient’s experience is that dental implants look and function just like their natural teeth. Most dental implant patients even report not being able to feel a difference! They do not slip or move inside the mouth as dentures are prone to do. Dental implants will generally last longer, as well. This is an important point to consider when comparing costs. While implants are more expensive, they usually last a lifetime. Dentures, on the other hand, can wear down and require replacement.

For patients looking for a more affordable replacement option, with the increased stability of implants, they may want to consider implant-supported dentures. Unlike traditional dentures, which rely on suction, implant-supported dentures are secured by dental implants. Regardless of which route an edentulous patient takes, it is clear that benefits of implants far outweigh those of dentures and will pave the way for a new era in tooth replacement.

If you are interested in exploring dental implants as a replacement for your own dentures, give our office a call to reserve a consultation today!

The use of lasers in periodontal practice has become a desirable alternative to traditional scalpel surgery; however, a deficiency in published evidence supporting the efficacy of such treatment exists. A recent review by Cobb, Low, and Coluzzi (2010) presents the current peer-reviewed evidence on the use of the most commonly used dental lasers over the last decade and explores why the use of such lasers in periodontal therapy remains controversial. The results of this review are summarized below.

Cobb, C., Low, S., Coluzzi, D. (2010). Lasers and the Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis. Dent Clin N AM 54 (35-53).

Nd:YAG Laser (1064 nm) are well-designed and adequately powered studies are severely limited with insufficient evidence to support evidence-based decision making when using this laser. Specifically, the derivation of evidence-based conclusions from the published literature is speculative due to weak and confusing evidence. When laser therapies are compared with conventional open-flap procedures, the conclusions consistently reveal no statistical or clinical significant differences between traditional surgery and laser-mediated periodontal surgery. Although proponents of Nd:YAG have promoted the laser as being effective against pigmented bacteria (i.e., Porphyromonas spp, Prevotella spp), common periodontal diseases exhibit a diverse population of non-pigment producing bacteria.

ER:YAG and ER,CR:YSGG Lasers (2940 nm and 2780 nm, respectively) – erbium lasers are effective in removing calculus and reducing PPD. Several studies have demonstrated safe and effective root substance removal without negative thermal effects. A collective average of 11 clinical trials shows equivalent or slightly greater reductions in PPD (2.29 mm vs 1.93 mm), gains in CAL (1.73 vs 1.26 mm), and decreased BOP (47% vs 43%) when compared to control treatments. Interestingly, of the four studies reporting effects of treatment on subgingival microbial levels, none showed a significant difference between treatment groups.

Diode Laser (809-980 nm) the purported benefits are based on the premise that subgingival curretage is an effective treatment and significant reduction in subgingival microbial populations are predictably achieved. In the five published clinical trials, none measured all four of the usual clinical parameters (reductions in PPD, BOP, subgingival microbes, or gains in CAL), therefore a meta analysis could not be performed by Cobb et al. Specific trends showed greater reductions in PPD and BOP in laser groups with a nearly equivalent gain in CAL. Two studies reported no significant difference between treatment groups. Despite the equivalency between laser-treated sites vs controls, uncontrolled case studies report successful periodontal therapy when using diode and  lasers as adjuncts to SRP. Although diode lasers are effective for soft-tissue applications, offering excellent incision, hemostasis, and coagulation, when combined with the appropriate choice of parameters can result in soft tissue penetration ranging from 0.5 mm to 3 mm.

CO2 Laser (10,600 nm) carbon dioxide lasers are effective in removing soft tissue and inflamed pockets while achieving good hemostasis. Only two published clinical trials show the effect on PD and the investigators reported no significant differences between treatment groups for reduced PPD and reduction in BOP. CAL gains were statistically significant in favor of only one of the CO2 treatment groups. The primary caution when using CO2 laser relates to the high absorption by hydroxyapatite and water. Therefore, clinicians are well-advised to carefully direct energy beam and use low energy densities to avoid damage to healthy hard tissues.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT, 635 nm to 690 nm) uses a combination of visible light and a photosensitizer; however, as with the diode laser, there are a small number of published clinical trials and the collective differences for measurable clinical parameters are not particularly noteworthy. The main premise for using PDT is to reduce subgingival microbes; however, only one of the five published trials measured this parameter and reported no significant difference between PDT and SRP treatments.