Coronally advanced flap adjunct with low intensity laser therapy: a randomized controlled clinical pilot study

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Regenerative Dentistry
• Biophotonics in Medicine

Background:

• The coronally advanced flap (CAF) is a surgical technique used to treat gingival recession defects.
• Modifications and adjunctive therapies are continuously explored to improve CAF outcomes.
• Low intensity laser therapy (LILT) has demonstrated potential in promoting wound healing processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of LILT as an adjunct to the CAF procedure for root coverage in multiple recession-type defects (MRTD).
• To compare clinical outcomes between sites treated with CAF plus LILT and CAF alone.

Main Methods:

• A split-mouth randomized controlled pilot study involving ten patients with symmetrical Miller Class I and II gingival recessions.
• Diode laser (588 nm) application in test sites: pre-operatively, immediately post-operatively, and daily for seven days.
• Clinical measurements including gingival recession depth (GRD), gingival recession width (GRW), width of keratinized tissue (WKT), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were assessed over one year.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements were observed in the test group (CAF + LILT) compared to the control group (CAF alone) for GRD, GRW, WKT, and CAL after one year (p < 0.05).
• Complete root coverage was achieved in 70% of test sites versus 30% of control sites.
• LILT demonstrated a positive impact on key periodontal parameters related to root coverage.

Conclusions:

• Low intensity laser therapy (LILT) appears to enhance the predictability and outcomes of the coronally advanced flap (CAF) procedure for treating multiple gingival recessions.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings.