Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy With a Herbal Extract on Alveolar Bone Healing

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of a gallium-aluminum-arsenide (GaAlAs) diode laser used in low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with the application of Mecsina Hemostopper on mandibular alveolar bone healing. Standard semispherical bone defects were created in left mandibular diastema sites of 32 female Long-Evans rats. Experimental animals were allocated to 1 of 4 groups: control group (no treatment), laser group (GaAlAs LLLT), Mecsina group, and laser-Mecsina combination group. Liquid Mecsina 0.01mL was applied to the bone defects. Laser treatment was performed for 7days after surgery at an energy dose of 10J/cm2. All animals were sacrificed to observe hard tissue healing histologically, immunohistochemically, and radiologically at 30days after surgery. Histologic assessment showed significantly more calcified tissue areas and significantly more osteoblast cells in the laser and laser-Mecsina groups than in the other groups (P<.01). Qualitative morphologic assessment showed that more bone tissue was present in the laser-Mecsina group than in the other groups. This study showed that LLLT, Mecsina application, and combined treatments were effective in healing alveolar bone among all tested treatment modalities.