Effects of Low Level Laser Therapy on Bone Regeneration of Intrabony Defects

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the histological efficiency of low level laser therapy (LLLT) with respect to the acceleration of bone regeneration after surgical treatment of intrabony defects. Twenty patients with intrabony defects, aged between 20-45, non-smokers, good health condition present at the time of the surgery, were randomly divided in two groups, control, ten parients, and test group, ten patients. Informed consent was obtained. Each patient presented at least one periodontal defect treated by bone allograft. The test group received postsurgical treatment with low lever laser therapy (LLLT). The equipment used was OsseoPulse AM300, at an intensity of 20mW/cm2, for 20 minutes per day, for 21 consecutive days. The control group received no treatment with LLLT. The bone formation was evaluated in both groups at baseline and 6 months postoperative by the means of tissue biopsy followed by a histological analysis. The histological study of the test samples at 6 months after regeneration showed bone formation without inflammatory cells and occasional nonviable bone consistent with regenerating bone. No evidence of the grafted material was present. The histological study suggests that in 6 months there was new bone formation in the defects treated with LLLT. Clinical data indicate the possibility of more rapid wound closure and subsequent healing in zones treated with LLLT as compared with control.