Comparing the effects of root surface scaling with ultrasound instruments and Er,Cr:YSGG laser

There are several studies done to show the comparability of laser scaling and root planing with routine methods. The most suitable wavelengths for such an application are reported as 2,940 and 2,780 nm. The superficial interactions of the current wavelength with root surface is investigated in this study to compare the crater and crack formation during the procedures between ultrasound and Er,Cr:yttrium-scandium-gallium garnet (YSGG; 2,780 nm) laser-treated teeth. Thirty human teeth with calculus on their root surface, which were extracted because of the severe periodontitis, were selected for this interventional in vitro study. Calculus area were divided into two equal parts: One of them was prepared for Er,Cr:YSGG (Biolase, Waterlase, USA) laser irradiation and the other one for ultrasound treatment (Dentsply cavitron, DENTSPLY International, USA). The Er,Cr:YSGG laser was specified as follows: pulse energy = 50 mJ, power = 1 W, wavelength = 2,780 nm, pulse repetition rate = 20 pulse per seconds, tip length = 6 mm, and tip diameter = 600 microm. Nineteen of the laser samples (95%) and eight of ultrasound ones (40%) out of 20 samples in each group had craters showing a statistical significant difference (p < 0.001). The number and depth of these craters are also evaluated. Thirteen samples of the laser cases (65%) and all samples of the ultrasound group showed cracks with significant differences (p = 0.008). In addition, the number and width of cracks in both groups are reported. As a general conclusion, the laser-treated samples show more craters but less cracks.     

Transition from congress abstract to full publication for clinical trials presented at laser meetings

The present study aims to identify (1) what proportion of abstracts of clinical trials presented at The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) annual meetings are published as full reports, (2) time to publication, and (3) factors that may predict the publication of research in peer-reviewed journals. Two investigators independently hand-searched all abstracts of the ASLMS meetings to identify all reports of clinical trials. Details of sample size, the country of origin, topic of research, type of presentation, type of laser, direction of outcome, and statistical significance were recorded for each abstract. To determine the full publication status of each study, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and EMBASE was searched. A total of 198 abstracts were identified. Of these, 87 abstracts (44%) have been fully published. The average time from presentation at the meeting to full publication was 57 months (95% confidence interval = 52-61), and the estimated rate of abstracts published at 1, 2, and 4 years was 15, 30, and 38%, respectively. There is significant tendency for being fully published in high-power laser studies, with USA as country of origin, and orally presented. Our findings supports this opinion that conference abstracts can be an important source for systematic reviews and failure to identify trials presented in congresses might threaten the validity of systematic reviews.