Doshi 2014.

Study characteristics
Methods	Study type: RCT (double‐blinded, split‐mouth design) Duration of trial: 1 week Duration of follow‐up: 1 week
Participants	Setting: Periodontology Department, MA Rangoonwala Dental College and Research Centre, Pune, India Inclusion criteria: having chronic periodontitis with a minimum of 2 sites in each quadrant with probing pocket depth ‡ 5 mm bilaterally, after 1 month following phase 1 therapy Exclusion criteria: smoking, debilitating diseases, being pregnant or lactating, having taken non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or antibiotics in the past 3 months, having carious lesions, having had desensitizing therapy during the last 6 months, having cervical fillings, or gingival recession Total number: 30 participants with 60 teeth Age range: 23 to 56 years Sex (M/F): 14/16
Interventions	Group 1: (30 patients, n = 30 teeth): GaAlAs laser (25 mW, 11.36 mW/cm2, 660 nm, area: 2.2 cm2). Laser irradiation was performed for the first 3 days following periodontal flap surgery for a duration of 3 minutes Group 2: (30 patients, n = 30 teeth): on the control sites, the laser was used as a placebo. Although it was placed on the marginal gingiva and was used in the similar motion, it was not activated
Outcomes	Sensitivity to thermal (air) stimulus was recorded before and on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after the treatment (VAS score and VRS)
Notes	Baseline characteristics: thorough scaling and root planing were performed as part of phase 1 therapy, and patients were advised to use 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthrinses for 2 weeks. Patients were recalled after 4 weeks. Persistent pockets of ‡ 5 mm at minimum of 2 sites in each quadrant were scheduled for flap surgery. The surgical procedure was performed by an experienced examiner Sample size calculation: not mentioned in the study Source of funding: no competing financial interests reported Ethics approval: not mentioned in the study Informed consent: quote: "The purpose and design of the investigation were explained to patients and an informed consent form was signed" Adverse events: not mentioned in the study
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Quote: "Using a coin toss, 30 sites were randomly assigned for laser irradiation (test site) and the other 30 sites served as control sites"
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Insufficient information provided
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Quote: "The study was double blinded such that the subjects and the calibrated examiner performing the measurements were blinded to avoid bias"
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Quote: "The study was double blinded such that the subjects and the calibrated examiner performing the measurements were blinded to avoid bias"
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Quote: "All the patients attended the follow‐up sessions"
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	All intended outcomes were reported in the study
Other bias	Low risk	No other sources of bias were identified Sample size calculation and source of funding were not mentioned in the study