Efficacy of laser therapy on primary burning mouth syndrome: a systematic review

Abstract

The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to determine the overall efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in managing burning mouth syndrome (BMS). A literature search was conducted through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from their inception up to 28 March 2023. The search terms were defined by combining (Mesh Terms OR Key Words) from “Burning mouth syndrome” AND (Mesh Terms OR Key Words) from “Laser therapy”. Methodological quality assessment was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical appraisal tool, attributing scores from 1 to 13 to the selected studies. Literature search, study selection, and data extraction were carried out by two authors. Differences on issues were resolved by a third author, if required. The primary investigated outcome was reducing BMS pain. A total of 21 articles met the inclusion criteria. After assessing full-text articles for eligibility, 12 articles were excluded. Consequently, 9 articles were retained. A low score of bias was calculated in 66% of the included studies. Compared to placebo, a significant reduction in pain or burning sensation was reported in 5 studies. This significant reduction was still observed in the laser group at the two- and four-month follow-ups in 2 studies. LLLT could be beneficial for patients suffering from BMS. In order to get strong evidence for placebo use, future studies with standardized methodology and outcomes are required.