Effect of pre-operatory low-level laser therapy on pain, swelling, and trismus associated with third-molar surgery.

M Petrini,G Perfetti,G Spoto,P Trentini,M Ferrante

doi:10.4317/medoral.21398

Abstract

BackgroundThe extraction of impacted third molars is commonly associated to pain, edema, trismus, limited jaw opening and movements. The aim of this retrospective study is to verify if pre-surgical low-level laser therapy (LLLT) associated with the extraction of impacted lower third molars could add benefits to the postoperative symptoms respect LLLT performed only after surgery.Material and MethodsData from 45 patients subjected to a surgical extraction of lower third molars were pooled and divided into three groups. Patients that received only routine management were inserted in the control group. Group 1, were patients that received LLLT immediately after surgery and at 24 hours. In group 2 were included patients treated with LLLT immediately before the extraction and immediately after the end of the procedure. Data were analyzed using linear regression and descriptive statistics.ResultsBoth laser-treated groups were characterized by minor events of post-surgery complications of pain, edema, trismus. The use of NSAIDs in the first 24 hours was significantly inferior in Group 2.ConclusionsPre-surgical LLLT treatment seems to increase the analgesic effect of LLLT. However, trismus and edema were reduced in both laser treated groups, independently from the period of irradiation. Key words:Laser, LLLT, pain, surgery, extraction, third molars, wisdom teeth.

Highlights

The extraction of impacted third molars is commonly associated to postsurgical transient complications of various intensity, like pain, edema, trismus, limited jaw opening and movements [1]
We have shown that postoperative level laser therapy (LLLT) by the use of a 980 nm diode laser was effective in the reduction of symptoms of pain, edema and trismus associated with third molars extraction [11]
A possible explanation of analgesic effect of LLLT is the ability to modulate several signaling pathways and physiologic mechanisms involved in analgesia, like the increase of β-endorphin levels (β-ep) and the modulation of biochemicals related to pain, including substance P (SP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) [19,20,21]

Summary

Introduction

The extraction of impacted third molars is commonly associated to postsurgical transient complications of various intensity, like pain, edema, trismus, limited jaw opening and movements [1]. Neĭmark et al have found that preoperative low-intensity laser therapy reduced the number of postoperative inflammatory complications, hospital stay, severity of postoperative period in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia [15] The aim of this retrospective study is to verify the better perioperatory protocol that is associated with minor complications, after the removal of impacted third molars. The extraction of impacted third molars is commonly associated to pain, edema, trismus, limited jaw opening and movements The aim of this retrospective study is to verify if pre-surgical low-level laser therapy (LLLT) associated with the extraction of impacted lower third molars could add benefits to the postoperative symptoms respect LLLT performed only after surgery. Trismus and edema were reduced in both laser treated groups, independently from the period of irradiation

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion