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RESEARCH PRODUCT

In vivo effects of an Er:YAG Laser, an ultrasonic system and scaling and root planing on the biocompatibility of periodontally diseased root surfaces in cultures of human PDL fibroblasts

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Background and Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vivo effects of an Er:YAG laser (ERL), an ultrasonic system and scaling and root planing (SRP) on the biocompatibility of periodontally diseased root surfaces in cultures of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDL). Study Design/Materials and Methods Forty single rooted teeth, considered for extraction due to severe periodontal destruction, have been randomly assigned to the following groups: (1) ERL at 160 mJ/pulse and 10 Hz, or (2) Vector® ultrasonic system (VUS), or (3) SRP using hand instruments, or (4) untreated control (C). Immediately after instrumentation, all test and control teeth were extracted and root specimens (4 mm2) were prepared from all mesial and distal surfaces (n = 80). Following the prescribed treatments, the root specimens were incubated with human PDL fibroblast cultures. Adherent cells were stained with methylene blue and counted using a reflected light microscope and the cell density per mm2 was calculated. Additionally, the cell morphology was investigated using SEM (n = 8 teeth). Results Cell counts within each group yielded the following means and standard deviations (cells/mm2): ERL, 111 ± 27; VUS, 75 ± 25; SRP, 41 ± 17; control, 25 ± 11. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences in the number of attached cells between the test and control groups (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, respectively). ERL and VUS treated specimens showed significantly higher numbers of cells/mm2 than the SRP group (P < 0.001, respectively). The difference between the ERL and VUS group was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusions The results of the present study indicate that (i) ERL, VUS, and SRP promote the attachment of PDL fibroblasts on previously diseased root surfaces, (ii) periodontally diseased root surfaces inhibit the adherence of PDL fibroblasts, and (iii) the surface structure of ERL and VUS instrumented roots seem to offer better conditions for the adherence of PDL fibroblasts than SRP. Lasers Surg. Med. 33:140–147, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.