Effect of Diode Laser on Human Cytomegalovirus and Epstein - Barr Virus in Chronic Periodontitis Patients – A Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Study

Background and aims: Studies have investigated the occurrence of Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) in samples of both chronic and aggressive periodontitis lesions and their role in the pathogenesis of the disease have been suggested. It is important to determine the role and presence of these viruses in chronic generalized periodontitis patients after Scaling and root planing (SRP) alone and in conjunction with diode laser application. Thus the aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Epstein–Barr virus(EBV) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples obtained from chronic generalised periodontitis patients. Materials (Subjects) and Methods: A total of 30 patients were included in the study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria as follows: Group I – 15 chronic generalized periodontitis patients who received treatment with scaling and root planing. Group II – 15 chronic generalized periodontitis patients who received treatment with scaling and root planing and Diode laser. In each patient GCF samples were collected at baseline, 7 days and 21 days after treatment. Clinical parameters like gingival index, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level were recorded and as GCF samples collected. Results: Correlation between quantification of EBV values with clinical parameters such as gingival index, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment loss in two groups showed statistical significance (P < 0.001). Relative quantification of EBV was statistically significant, whereas HCMV was significantly absent. The mean values of GI, PPD and CAL parameters at different time interval was found to be statistically significant in both group (P < 0.001) Conclusions: Only EBV was detected more frequently in patients with CGP, but HCMV was not detected with similar frequency in the groups studied. We also found that group with application of diode laser showed statistical significant results.