Two‐year clinical outcomes following non‐surgical mechanical therapy of peri‐implantitis with adjunctive diode laser application

Abstract Background Non‐surgical mechanical therapy of peri‐implantitis ( PI ) with/without adjunctive measures yields limited clinical improvements. Aim To evaluate the clinical outcomes following non‐surgical mechanical therapy of PI with adjunctive application of a diode laser after an observation period ≥2 years. Material and methods At baseline ( BL ), 15 patients with 23 implants with a sandblasted and acid‐etched ( SLA ) surface diagnosed with PI were enrolled and treated. PI was defined as presence of probing pocket depths ( PPD ) ≥5 mm with bleeding on probing (BoP) and/or suppuration and ≥2 threads with bone loss after delivery of the restoration. Implant sites were treated with carbon fiber and metal curettes followed by repeated application of a diode laser 3x for 30 s (settings: 810 nm, 2.5 W, 50 Hz, 10 ms). This procedure was performed at Day 0 (i.e., baseline), 7 and 14. Adjunctive antiseptics or adjunctive systemic antibiotics were not prescribed. Results All implants were in function after 2 years. The deepest PPD decreased from 7.5 ± 2.6 mm to 3.6 ± 0.7 mm at buccal ( P < 0.0001) and from 7.7 ± 2.1 mm to 3.8 ± 0.9 mm at oral sites ( P < 0.0001), respectively. The % of implants with ≥1 site with BoP decreased from 100% at BL to 43% after 2 years ( P = 0.0002). The % of implants with suppuration decreased from 87% at BL to 0% after 2 years ( P < 0.0001). Conclusion Non‐surgical mechanical therapy of PI with adjunctive repeated application of a diode laser yielded significant clinical improvements after an observation period of at least 2 years.