Dental
lasers are a therapeutic option of increasing interest to
practitioners. However, their role in periodontal therapy remains
controversial. There are many strategies and types of dental lasers
advocated for this purpose. In the network's second Quick Poll Survey,
Dr. Griselle Ortiz from Vandalia, Ohio and a workgroup interested in
Laser-assisted periodontal therapy, wanted to better understand laser
use by network members.
The
survey had 434 responses, with more than one-third (37%) reporting
using lasers as part of periodontal therapy. Of the dentists who
reported using lasers, 80% of whom are general dentists, most (62%) use
it less than once per week for periodontal care, and only 7% use it more
than 5 times per week for periodontal care. The types of
laser-supported services provided (% of users) included:
- pocket disinfection (54%)
- non-surgical periodontal therapy (52%)
- adjunct to scaling and root planing (46%)
- surgical periodontal therapy (32%)
- management of peri-implantitis (25%)
- low-level laser therapy (23%)
- other periodontal procedures (23%)
Among those who use a dental laser, a diode laser was the most common (79%), followed by Nd:YAG (13%) and ErCr:YSGG (10%).
This
survey had a high level of response for a Quick Poll, including 191
open-ended comments, suggesting that network practitioners are
interested in the use of lasers for periodontal therapy. This survey
provides insights for the Laser Protocol Development Workgroup as they
address the question of laser efficacy in periodontal therapy through
the National Dental PBRN.
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