Vol. 11, Issue 3, Part F (2025)

Introduction: SRP effectively removes biofilm but may not fully control inflammation. Adjunctive therapies such as local drug delivery and LLLT have shown potential in enhancing periodontal healing. Flax seed gel (FS) is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, and antioxidants, which exhibit anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties. LLLT works by stimulating cellular metabolism, increasing ATP production, and reducing oxidative stress, leading to improved tissue repair and reduced inflammation.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of SRP, flax seed gel and LLLT in management of periodontitis.

Methodology: This split mouth, randomized controlled study included 10 subjects with chronic periodontitis having at least 2 sites with 5-6 mm PPD in all quadrants. The 4 quadrants of each subject were divided randomly in 4 groups; Group 1: SRP + FS gel, Group 2: SRP + LLLT, Group 3: SRP + LLLT + FS gel and Group 4: SRP only. The clinical parameters assessed were PI, GI, PPD and RAL examination was performed at baseline and 1 month.

Results: On intragroup comparison, all groups showed significant improvement over 1 month. However, Group 3 exhibited the most substantial reduction in probing pocket depth and relative attachment level, suggesting a synergistic benefit of combining SRP with both flax seed gel and LLLT (p=0.05). All the other groups except for SRP showed better results but the intergroup comparison was not statistically significant (p>0.05)

Conclusion: Flax seed gel and LLLT, as adjuncts to SRP, enhance periodontal healing. Their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties make them promising therapeutic options.