Effects of Scaling and Root Planing With and Without Er:YAG Laser in Chronic Periodontitis Patients

January 9, 2018 updated by: Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

Randomized Clinical Trial Assessing the Clinical Outcomes and Recolonization Patterns Following Scaling and Root Planing With and Without Using Er.YAG Laser in Chronic Periodontitis Patients

Dental bacterial plaque is the most frequent modifiable finding in patients with periodontal (gum) diseases. Many studies have provided evidence that mechanical removal of dental plaque is critical for improving the periodontal health. The standard initial treatment of periodontitis (gum disease) is to remove plaque and calculus form the teeth and root structures using sclaing and root planing (SRP). Typically hand instruments and an ultrasonic scaler are used for SRP

While this method removes some of the bacteria that leads to periodontitis, microorganisms are not completely eliminated through SRP. Studies have shown that after 3 months, the bacteria initially present prior to scaling and root planing had recolonized. In order to prevent recurrence of periodontitis, it is recommended that oral bacteria be kept at low levels.

When used at the proper wave length, dental lasers have been shown to effectively removes calculus, without damaging surrounding tissue. The Er:YAG laser has been FDA-approved for the use of scaling and root planing in Dentistry. While studies on the Er:YAG laser have shown that it is effective in removing calculus and preserving the tooth root structure, there is no consensus of the level of calculus removal. The Er:YAG laser may also be more effective in removing microbial bacteria than SRP with hand instruments and ultrasonic scaler.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Er:YAG laser, as an adjunct to scaling and root planing, in removing microbial bacteria. Participants with chronic periodontitis will be randomized to have one quadrant undergo scaling and root planing using hand instruments and ultrasonic scaler alone, while a second quadrant will receive the same treatment, with the addition of the Er:YAG laser. Outcomes studies will be traditional periodontal clinical parameters at 6 weeks and 3 months after treatment. Microbial cultures will be performed at baseline and 3 months to compare survival and re-population by periodontal microorganisms.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Unknown

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Primary Aim: The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Er:YAG laser as an adjunct to mechanical scaling and root planing periodontal therapy by comparing probing depth and clinical attachment levels.

Secondary aim: The secondary aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Er:YAG laser as an adjunct to mechanical scaling and root planing periodontal therapy by comparing gingival bleeding index and plaque index.

Tertiary aim: The tertiary aim of this study is to compare the microbial outcomes of mechanical periodontal therapy alone vs. mechanical therapy combined followed with Er:YAG laser therapy at the same time.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
56

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02111
        • Recruiting
        • Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Charles Hawley, DDS, MS, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients enrolled in the Post-Graduate Periodontology Clinic at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM)
  • Recent (within the past 30 days) diagnosis of moderate to severe chronic periodontitis in at least two quadrants according to the Armitage Classification
  • Have had full mouth and vertical bite-wing series of diagnostic radiographs exposed at TUSDM within 6 months preceding entry of the study as a standard of care
  • Have a treatment plan made by the original provider and certified by the PI based on the working diagnosis, presenting etiology, and the predicted therapeutic outcomes of the case (prognosis).
  • Each of the two selected quadrants should have at least 5 teeth including the canine, first premolar and second premolar in contact with at least one tooth that has ≥ 5 mms and ≤ 9 mms probing depths with bleeding on probing.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants must not have had mechanical debridement or any other professional periodontal therapy within 6 months preceding entering the study
  • Participants with significant chronic oral soft tissue pathology (lichen planus, Benign Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid, Steven Johnson's Syndrome, Sjogren's Syndrome, etc.) which might affect host response to the presence of bacteria.
  • Participants with fixed appliances or partial dentures, to standardize the effect of the treatment since they are plaque retentive.
  • Participants who smoke tobacco
  • Participants who require prophylactic antibiotics prior to dental treatment
  • Participants who have taken systemic antibiotic medications within the previous 6 months
  • Participants with uncontrolled systemic conditions or disease such as diabetes and immunological disorders
  • Participants with known drug allergies or known adverse effects following the use of oral hygiene products.
  • Participants who are pregnant or lactating
  • Teeth with grade III mobility or teeth with hopeless prognosis indicated for extraction

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Scaling and Root Planing

Hand instruments + ultrasonic scaler

PD, CAL, plaque index and gingival bleeding index will be measured at baseline, 6 weeks and 3 months. Microbial load will be measured at baseline and 3 months.
Procedure: Scaling and Root Planing
Standard of care scaling and root planing using hand instruments and ultrasonic scaler
Experimental: Scaling and Root Planing + Er:YAG Laser

Er:YAG Laser, hand instruments + ultrasonic scaler

PD, CAL, plaque index and gingival bleeding index will be measured at baseline, 6 weeks and 3 months. Microbial load will be measured at baseline and 3 months.
Procedure: Scaling and Root Planing
Standard of care scaling and root planing using hand instruments and ultrasonic scaler
Device: Er:YAG Laser
Er:YAG laser as an adjunct therapy to standard of care scaling and root planing using hand instruments and ultrasonic

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Probing Depth
Time Frame: Up to 3 months
Differences in pocket depth reduction between laser treatment and control groups will be analyzed with a linear mixed effects model. Four sites (mesiolingual, mesiobuccal, distolingual, and distobuccal) per tooth will be averaged and used in the linear mixed effects model. Normality of the data will be assessed graphically and with the Shapiro-Wilk test.
Up to 3 months
Change in Clinical Attachment Levels
Time Frame: Up to 3 months
Differences in attachment gain between laser treatment and control groups will be analyzed with a linear mixed effects model. Four sites (mesiolingual, mesiobuccal, distolingual, and distobuccal) per tooth will be averaged and used in the linear mixed effects model. Normality of the data will be assessed graphically and with the Shapiro-Wilk test.
Up to 3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Gingival Bleeding Index
Time Frame: Up to 3 months
The gingival bleeding index (the number of bleeding sites divided by the total number of sites) will be calculated. Statistical significance between the two groups' gingival bleeding index will be determined with generalized estimating equations.
Up to 3 months
Change in Plaque Index
Time Frame: Up to 3 months
The plaque index (the number of surfaces with plaque divided by the total number of surfaces) will be calculated. Statistical significance between the two groups' plaque index will be determined with generalized estimating equations.
Up to 3 months
Change in microbial load, measured in Colony Forming Units (CFUs)
Time Frame: baseline, 3 months

Microbial load will be measured by the total number of cultivable bacteria measured by total viable colony forming units (CFUs) on non-selective and selective media. Percent cultivability of periodontal pathogens will be measured by number of pathogen specific CFUs in proportion to total cultivability.

Differences in microbial load will be investigated with the paired t-test. If the assumption of normality is unmet, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test will be used instead.
baseline, 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Charles Hawley, DDS, MS, PhD, TUSDM

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 20, 2017

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 1, 2018

Study Completion (Anticipated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 9, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 21, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 28, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 11, 2018

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 9, 2018

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 12321

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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