A Qualitative Analysis of Periodontal Pathogens in Chronic Periodontitis Patients after Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy with and without Diode Laser Disinfection Using Benzoyl–DL Arginine-2-Naphthylamide Test: A Randomized Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION: Periodontal diseases are caused by pathogenic bacteria locally colonized in the dental biofilm creating infection; the main etiological factor is represented by dental plaque and in particular by anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli. For that reason, the first phase of periodontal treatment is always represented by the initial preparation which primarily aims at the elimination or reduction of bacterial infection and the control of periodontal plaque-associated inflammation. Yet, another innovative causal therapy is represented by the irradiation of periodontal pockets with LASER. The aim of this randomized clinical study is to compare and to detect the presence of periodontal pathogens in chronic periodontitis patients after nonsurgical periodontal therapy with and without diode LASER disinfection using BANA test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial includes 20 patients having chronic periodontitis. From each patient, one test site and one control site were selected and assessed for gingival index (GI), oral hygiene index (OHI), pocket probing depth and clinical attachment level (CAL), and presence of BANA pathogens. The test site underwent scaling and root planning along with diode LASER therapy as an adjuvant while the control site received scaling and root planning alone. Patients were recalled for review after 2 weeks and 2 months where periodontal parameters were assessed and plaque samples were collected and analyzed for BANA pathogens. RESULTS: The test site where LASER was used as an adjuvant showed significant reduction in pocket probing depth, CAL, OHI, GI, and periodontal pathogens which shows that the amount of recolonization of microbes is less when LASER is used as an adjuvant to conventional therapy. CONCLUSION: Diode LASER as an adjuvant to SRP has shown additional benefits over conventional therapy in all the clinical parameters evaluated and this can be associated in the treatment of periodontal therapy. BANA-enzymatic kit is a simple chair side kit which can be reliable indicator of BANA positive species in dental plaque.