This investigation compared a traditional periodontal surgical method with a non-surgical treatment of scaling and root planing by an ultrasonic device (Odontoson M) using irrigation with an iodised solution. 8 adult patients with periodontal disease were each treated at 2 randomly chosen quadrants by a Widman flap type surgical technique, and the remaining non-surgically. The patients then attended bi-monthly oral hygiene sessions over a period of 1 year. At that stage, clinical evaluation revealed that the Odontoson M plus an ionized irrigant solution achieved a statistically comparable outcome to that of surgical treatment, even in the pockets initially up to 7 mm in depth.