Efficacy of nonsurgical mechanical debridement with and without adjunct low-level laser therapy in the treatment of peri-implantitis: A randomized controlled trial

We hypothesized that in the long term (6-month follow-up), nonsurgical mechanical debridement (NSMD) with adjunct low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is more effective for the treatment of peri-implantitis than NSMD alone. The aim of the present 6-month follow-up convenience-sample cohort study was to assess the efficacy of LLLT as an adjunct to NSMD in the treatment of peri-implantitis. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic information. Patients with peri-implantitis in the test and control groups underwent NSMD with and without adjunct LLLT, respectively. Randomization was done by tossing a coin. In the test group, the laser was applied perpendicular to the periodontal pocket for 20 seconds at a constant distance of 15 mm and with a continuous wavelength (3.41 J/cm² delivery with a 1.76 cm² spot and average output of 0.3 W). In both groups, peri-implant probing depth, bleeding upon probing, and crestal bone resorption were assessed at baseline and at the 3-month and 6-month follow-up. Group comparisons were performed, and P< .05 was considered statistically significant. Sixty-seven individuals with peri-implantitis were included. The mean age of participants who underwent NSMD with adjunct LLLT and NSMD alone was 46.5 ± 3.4 and 45.3 ± 1.1 years, respectively. At the 3- and 6-month follow-up, peri-implant (P< .05), bleeding upon probing (P< .05), and probing depth (P, .05) were significantly higher among patients who underwent NSMD alone compared with patients who underwent NSMD with adjunct LLLT. There was no significant difference in crestal bone resorption in all patients up to the 6-month follow-up. In the short term, NSMD with adjunct LLLT was a useful treatment protocol for the treatment of peri-implant soft-tissue inflammation.