The Effect of Periodontal Therapy on the Level of MMP-8 in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis

Objective The complete removal of bacterial plaque and their endotoxins in deeper areas of periodontal pockets is often difficult to achieve with conventional methods such as periodontal pocket curettage. An alternative to these methods that recently gained popularity in periodontology is the diode laser, with its antibacterial effect, angiogenesis promotion as advantages. Materials and Methods This study included 100 patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis, with periodontal pockets up to 6 mm, and who were divided into two groups: patients treated with basic therapy and diode laser application, and patients treated with basic therapy and with flap surgery. The clinical periodontal evaluation was done before the treatment and 6 months after the treatment. Evaluation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 as an inflammatory indicator in gingival exudate was done with dipstick immunoassay test before the treatment and 6 months later. Results This study showed a more pronounced improvement of periodontal clinical parameters, as well as a decrease in MMP-8 values in gingival exudate in the laser-treated group compared with the surgically treated group. Conclusion The results of this study are encouraging for the use of the diode laser as a noninvasive method in the treatment of periodontal pathologies.