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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Adjunctive Diode Laser Therapy and Probiotic Lactobacillus Therapy in the Treatment of Periodontitis and Peri-Implant Disease

Adjunctive Diode Laser Therapy and Probiotic Lactobacillus Therapy in the Treatment of Periodontitis and Peri-Implant Disease

Published on: May 9, 2022

Redefining the biologic width in severe, generalized, chronic periodontitis: implications for therapy.

M John Novak¹, Huda M Albather, John M Close

¹Center for Oral Health Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0297, USA. mjnova2@uky.edu

Journal of Periodontology

|October 7, 2008

Summary

The clinical biologic width in severe periodontitis is significantly larger than previously thought. Shallow pockets showed the greatest width, indicating higher risk during surgery.

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Area of Science:

Periodontology
Oral Surgery

Background:

Previous research noted variability in histologic biologic width in healthy and mildly affected periodontitis patients.
The established biologic width dimensions may not apply to severe periodontitis cases.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess if established biologic width dimensions are applicable to patients with severe, generalized, chronic periodontitis.

Main Methods:

Included 28 adults (29-45 years) with severe, generalized, chronic periodontitis (19 smokers).
Calibrated examiners performed clinical and radiographic measurements.
Clinical biologic width was measured from attachment level to alveolar bone crest on proximal surfaces.

Main Results:

Clinical biologic width in severe periodontitis was significantly greater than previously reported (mean 3.95 mm vs. 2.04 mm).

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Adjunctive Diode Laser Therapy and Probiotic Lactobacillus Therapy in the Treatment of Periodontitis and Peri-Implant Disease

Adjunctive Diode Laser Therapy and Probiotic Lactobacillus Therapy in the Treatment of Periodontitis and Peri-Implant Disease

Published on: May 9, 2022

Greatest widths observed in shallow pockets (<2 mm: 5.02 mm; 2-4 mm: 4.16 mm).

Conclusions:

Mean clinical biologic width in severe periodontitis exceeds previously reported histologic measurements.
Shallow probing depths exhibit the largest biologic width, suggesting increased risk of attachment loss during surgery.