Efficacy of laser therapy in the management of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ): a systematic review.

Abstract

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw is a well-known potential side effect of long-term bisphosphonate therapy; the primary objective of the treatment should be to improve patient quality of life through pain and infection management, to prevent the development of new lesions, and to slow disease progression. In recent years, the use of laser for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw has become more widespread, due to its use of administration and widely reported beneficial effects on tissue healing. The present systematic review of the literature sought to elucidate whether low-level laser therapy has positive effects on the treatment of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. We conducted a systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library electronic databases, with no restrictions on language or year of publication. Search strategies were formulated using keywords and Boolean operators. The electronic search strategy retrieved 55 records. From 55 articles, 16 were selected for full-text review, and of these, 10 were ultimately included for data analysis in this review. Our findings show that treatment modalities including laser were associated with superior outcomes in terms of cure or improvement of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw lesions as compared with conventional surgical and/or conservative drug therapy. It can be concluded that combined treatment with antibiotics, minimally invasive surgery (including Er:YAG laser surgery), and low-level laser therapy in the early stages of the disease should be the gold standard for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw management.