Pooja Subhashrao Shinde¹, Roshani Thakur², Vaishnavi Vikas Dighe³, Bhagyashree Tulshidas Biradar⁴, Vibhuti Dilip Mistry⁴* and Chetan Vinay Deshmukh⁵

¹Final Year Postgraduate Student, Periodontology and Oral Implantology, Saraswati Dhanvantari Dental College and Hospital, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India
²Professor and Head, Periodontology and Oral Implantology, Saraswati Dhanvantari Dental College and Hospital, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India
³Postgraduate Student, Periodontology and Oral Implantology, Saraswati Dhanvantari Dental College and Hospital, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India
⁴Assistant Professor, Periodontology and Oral Implantology, JMF’s ACPM Dental College, Dhule, Maharashtra, India
⁵Assistant Professor, Public Health Dentistry, Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai and Ph.D. Scholar, Public Health Dentistry, ACPM Dental College, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, Maharashtra, India

*Corresponding Author: Vibhuti Dilip Mistry, Assistant Professor, Periodontology and Oral Implantology, JMF’s ACPM Dental College, Dhule, Maharashtra, India.

Received: September 19, 2025; Published: October 21, 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic periodontitis leads to progressive loss of periodontal support, necessitating effective surgical interventions. Conventional open flap debridement (OFD) is widely practiced but is associated with post-surgical morbidity. The single flap approach (SFA), a minimally invasive technique, may offer superior healing, and the adjunctive use of diode laser (DL) could further enhance clinical outcomes.

Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled, split-mouth clinical trial was conducted on 18 patients (36 sites) with probing pocket depth (PPD) > 5 mm after Phase I therapy. Sites were randomly assigned to Group I (OFD) and Group II (SFA with DL). Clinical parameters including Gingival Index (GI), Modified Sulcus Bleeding Index (mSBI), PPD, Relative Attachment Level (RAL), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score were recorded at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: Both groups showed significant improvement in clinical parameters compared to baseline (p < 0.001). Intergroup comparison revealed greater reduction in GI, mSBI, PPD, and RAL in Group II at 3 and 6 months (p < 0.05). Postoperative pain scores (VAS) were significantly lower in the SFA + DL group immediately and on day 7 (p < 0.001).

Discussion: The adjunctive use of diode laser in SFA demonstrated superior improvements in clinical parameters and patient comfort compared to conventional OFD. Enhanced wound healing and reduced morbidity highlight the potential benefits of laser-assisted minimally invasive approaches.

Conclusion: The single flap approach with diode laser is a clinically effective and patient-friendly alternative to open flap debridement in the management of chronic periodontitis. Further long-term studies with larger sample sizes are recommended.

Keywords: Periodontal Pocket; Periodontal Attachment Loss; Periodontal Debridement; Lasers; Semiconductor; Surgical Flaps; Pain Measurement; Treatment Outcome

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Citation

Citation: Vibhuti Dilip Mistry., et al. “Efficacy of Single Flap Approach with and without Diode Laser in Managing Periodontal Intra-Bony Defects: A Randomised Clinical Trial".Acta Scientific Dental Sciences 9.11 (2025): 16-25.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Vibhuti Dilip Mistry., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.