Purpose: The aim of the present series of case reports was to evaluate the combination therapy of intrabony periodontal defects using an Er:YAG laser (ERL) and enamel matrix protein derivative (EMD). Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with chronic periodontitis, each of whom displayed one intrabony defect, were randomly treated with access flap surgery and root surface/defect debridement using ERL (16.5 J/cm2) followed by the application of EMD. The following clinical parameters were recorded at baseline and at 6 months: plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), and clinical attachment level (CAL). Results: Healing was uneventful in all patients. At 6 months after therapy, the sites treated with ERL and EMD showed a mean PD reduction from 8.5 ± 1.1 mm to 4.7 ± 0.8 mm and a mean CAL change from 10.5 ± 1.4 mm to 7.6 ± 1.4 mm (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Within the limits of this case series, it may be concluded that the combination of ERL and EMD may improve clinical healing of intrabony periodontal defects over a period of 6 months.

Keywords: case series, enamel proteins, intrabony defects, lasers, periodontal regeneration, therapeutic use