Effects of Dexamethasone and Photobiomodulation on Pain, Swelling, and Quality of Life After Buccal Fat Pad Removal: A Clinical Trial

Abstract

In this study we aimed to compare the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) and dexamethasone (DXM) on pain, swelling, and the quality-of-life (QOL) of patients submitted to buccal fat pad removal. A total of 20 patients with pseudoherniation of buccal fat pad were included in the present study. The patients were divided randomly into 2 groups: the PBM group (660nm, 100mW, 6seconds, 2J/cm2) and the DXM group (4mg every 8hours for 3days after the procedure). Pain levels were evaluated using a visual analog scale at days 2 and 4 after surgery, whereas the edema was evaluated by measuring the distance between 6 reference points: tragus, pogonion of the soft tissue, lateral eye commissure, the gonial angle, nose wing, and mouth commissure at days 2, 4, 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90. The QOL was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile 14 questionnaire at days 2 and 4 after surgery. There were no differences between the PBM and DXM groups in pain or edema. In terms of the QOL, the PBM group was significantly more comfortable when chewing than the DXM group (P<.05) CONCLUSION: The use of PBM at a power of 100mW and 2J/cm2 per point had similar effects to oral DXM for the control of pain and edema, as well as in the QOL, except for masticatory function, which was significantly better in the PBM group.