Effect of Combined Low Intensity Laser and Supplementary Micronutrients on the Healing Phase of Dental Implants

Abstract

This study was aimed to assess the effect of low intensity laser (LIL) combined with supplementary micronutrients on the healing phase following endosteal dental implant insertion. Thirty implants were installed in the maxillary premolar regions of thirty male subjects of age ranged from 40-45 years old. Subjects were then randomly divided into three groups (I, II, and III), conventional, drug supplementation, and, laser groups. Following implant insertion, the healing phase of group (I) was left to progress spontaneously without any interference. Group (II) was given drug supplementation regimen for two months (one month before and one month after the implant surgery), while the implant insertion in laser group (III) was followed by low intensity (gallium arsenide diode) laser application with wavelength of 904 nm, an output power of 30 mWatts, and a frequency of 9999 Hz for 3 minutes in three sessions on three alternative days starting from the tenth post-operative day. A six month follow up period was applied radiographically to all subjects of both groups using sequential conventional radiographs. Radiographs were digitized by a professional scanner and bone density was recorded. The results revealed that drug therapy reduced the recommended healing time by 8% while laser therapy reduced the recommended healing time by 33%.