Diode Laser-Assisted Periodontal Therapy in Kidney Transplant Recipients

• This is a prospective, parallel-group, randomized controlled clinical trial in kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with periodontitis.
• Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either SRP with adjunctive diode laser therapy (intervention arm) or SRP alone (control arm).
• Follow-up visits are scheduled at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment.
• Main clinical outcomes include clinical attachment level (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD), plaque-related indices, gingival inflammation (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and oral hygiene status (OHI-S).
• Systemic laboratory outcomes include platelet count, urea, creatinine, and C-reactive protein (CRP).
• Subgingival plaque samples will undergo next-generation sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) at baseline and 1 month after treatment to evaluate microbiome changes.
• Alveolar bone changes will be assessed radiographically according to the study imaging protocol.

Inclusion criteria

• Kidney transplant recipients aged 18 years or older.
• Diagnosis of periodontitis according to the study case definition.
• Medically stable and able to undergo non-surgical periodontal treatment.
• Willing and able to provide written informed consent and attend follow-up visits.

Exclusion criteria

• - Periodontal treatment or systemic antibiotic use within the predefined exclusion window in the protocol.
• Acute oral infection requiring urgent treatment.
• Pregnancy or lactation, if excluded by the approved protocol.
• Serious systemic condition or clinical instability judged by investigators to preclude study participation.
• Inability to comply with study procedures or follow-up schedule.