Clinical application of erbium:YAG laser in periodontology

Various lasers have been introduced for the treatment of oral diseases and their applications in dental clinics have become a topic of much interest among practitioners. Technological advances and improvements have increased the choices of the available laser systems for oral use. Among them, a recently developed erbium-doped:yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser system possesses suitable characteristics for oral soft and hard tissue ablation. Due to its high absorption in water, an effective ablation with a very thin surface interaction occurs on the irradiated tissues without any major thermal damage to the irradiated and surrounding tissues. In the field of periodontics, the application of Er:YAG laser for periodontal hard tissue has begun with studies from Japanese and German researchers. Several in vitro and clinical studies have already demonstrated an effective application of the Er:YAG laser for calculus removal and decontamination of the diseased root surface in periodontal non-surgical and surgical procedures. However, further studies are required to better understand the various effects of Er:YAG laser irradiation on biological tissues for its safe and effective application during periodontal and implant therapy. Randomized controlled clinical trials and more basic studies have to be encouraged and performed to confirm the status of Er:YAG laser treatment as an adjunct or alternative to conventional mechanical periodontal therapy. In this paper, the advantages and current clinical applications of this laser in periodontics and implant dentistry are summarized based on current scientific evidence.