Abstract
BACKGROUND: Limited studies are available to evaluate the nonsurgical treatment with or without diode laser (DL) decontamination in chronic periodontitis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study aimed to compare the outcomes of nonsurgical periodontal therapy with or without adjunct use of diode laser in patients with T2DM and periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 26 patients with periodontitis and T2DM (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] ≥6.5%) were selected and divided into test and control groups. Both the groups received nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) in two sessions one week apart. In test group, scaling and root planing was followed by DL application and in control group, by sham laser application. Clinical parameters, including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL), coupled with HbA1c were carried out at baseline and at intervals of three and six months. RESULTS: A mean PPD reduction of 36.74% in the test and 33.92% in the control group was seen. In intragroup comparisons, there was a statistically significant result (P < 0.001) from baseline to six months in PI, GI, PPD and CAL. A statistically significant improvement of HbA1c value was observed from baseline to six months in the LASER group. CONCLUSION: LASER-assisted photo-biomodulation in combination with NSPT showed better results in patients with periodontitis and T2DM.