Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine - Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the low intensity laser radiation on bone density around dental implants in diabetic patients. Materials and methods: Sixteen implants were placed in the maxilla of eight controlled diabetic patients. Each patient received two implants, one on the right side in which the implants were left to heal without any intervention [control], and the other on the left side, in which the patients received Gallium arsenide soft laser. A core bone biopsy was also taken for histopathological analysis. Postoperative digital panoramas were taken after two weeks, three and six months postoperatively. Changes in bone density along the zones of bone-implant interface [zone 1] and the bone surrounding zone 1 [zone 2] were assessed using the IDRISI Kilimanjaro software. Bone area percentage and bone cells{u2019} count were measured using the image analyzer. Results: The bone density along zone 1 was higher than that of zone 2 irrespective of the laser effect with no statistical significance. A statistically significant increased difference with regard to the rate of bone density was observed between zone I and zone II favoring the laser group. Conclusion: The low intensity laser irradiation promoted bone healing and enhanced osseointegration emphasizing the laser{u2019}s biostimulatory effect

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