Treatment outcome following use of the erbium, chromium:yttrium, scandium, gallium, garnet laser in the non-surgical management of peri-implantitis: a case series

Aim To date there is no consensus on the appropriate usage of lasers in the management of peri-implantitis. Our aim was to conduct a retrospective clinical analysis of a case series of implants treated using an erbium, chromium: yttrium, scandium, gallium, garnet laser. Materials and methods Twenty-eight implants with peri-implantitis in 11 patients were treated with an Er, Cr:YSGG laser (68 sites >4 mm), using a 14 mm, 500 mu m diameter, 60 degrees (85%) radial firing tip (1.5 W, 30 Hz, short (140 mu s) pulse, 50 mJ/pulse, 50% water, 40% air). Probing depths were recorded at baseline after 2 months and 6 months, along with the presence of bleeding on probing. Results The age range was 27-69 years (mean 55.9); mean pocket depth at baseline was 6.64 +/- SD 1.48 mm (range 5-12 mm), with a mean residual depth of 3.29 +/- 1.02 mm (range 1-6 mm) after 2 months, and 2.97 +/- 0.7 mm (range 1-9 mm) at 6 months. Reductions from baseline to both 2 and 6 months were highly statistically significant (P <0.001). Patient level reduction in bleeding from baseline to both 2 and 6 months were statistically significant (P <0.001). Conclusion In view of the positive findings in this pilot study, well-designed randomised controlled trials of the use of Er, Cr:YSGG laser in the non-surgical management of peri-implantitis are required to validate our clinical findings.