Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy and Dexamethasone in Reducing the Severity of Post-Operative Inflammatory Response Following Surgical Extraction of Mandibular Third Molars.

Abstract

To assesses the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) over dexamethasone in reducing postoperative edema and trismus following surgical removal of mandibular third molars. A single-center, parallel group, randomized, prospective, single-blind clinical trial on 50 patients between the age 18-40years, requiring surgical extraction of mandibular third molars classified as mesioangular, class II and position B impactions, was selected for the study. The selected patients were randomly divided into two groups:Group 1, n = 25, Soft Tissue Diode laser was applied intra-orally and extra-orally at the insertion of the masseter.Group 2, n = 25, 8mg of Dexamethasone was given intravenously preoperatively.Trismus and edema were calculated preoperatively and on the 1st and 5th postoperative day. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using student's t test. Trismus (4.61 ± 0.26cm [p = 0.0001]) in the LLLT group was significantly less than the dexamethasone group (trismus: 3.82 ± 0.73cm). Edema at different anatomic locations in the LLLT group was also significantly less than the dexamethasone group (Angle-tragus [p = 0.0008], angle-canthus [p = 0.0021], angle-ala [p = 0.0258], angle-commissure [p = 0.0168], angle-mentus [p = 0.0227]). This study demonstrates that LLLT was beneficial in reduction in edema and trismus compared to dexamethasone following surgical extraction of third molars.