Laser Dentistry

Laser therapy is studied as an adjunct to conventional non-surgical periodontal treatment. The review found that it might help short-term treatment outcomes when used alongside that conventional care.

The systematic-evidence overview found a possible short-term effect, while long-term effects were still lacking. Study quality also varied, with reviews classified from high quality to critically low quality.

Controlled studies have found similar results with laser treatment and specific other non-surgical options, including scaling and root planing alone. Scaling removes plaque and bacterial toxins beneath the gumline, then root planing smooths the root surface.

A laser may be part of non-surgical periodontal care, rather than a replacement for it. The evidence examined lasers used with conventional treatment and found possible short-term benefit, not a proven long-term advantage.

Lasers have different wavelengths and power levels for periodontal procedures. An inappropriate wavelength or power level can damage periodontal tissues, so those settings matter to safe use.