Evaluation of a Newly Developed Laser Pen as a Home Care Device for Pain Reduction of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (Preliminary Study)

Maziar Mir,Masoud Shabani,Hassan Adalatkhah,Roshan Babaalipour,Jan Tunér,Amir Mansour Shirani,Seyed Masoud Mojahedi

doi:10.4236/ijcm.2015.61003

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this survey is to evaluate the effect of a new developed laser pen as a home care device for patients’ pain reduction with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Background data: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is one of the most common and painful ulcers in the oral cavity. Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been used successfully for reducing pain and healing time in comparison with corticosteroids and placebo in some studies. But these treatments are done in the clinics and it seems that there is no report of the laser treatment as a home care device up to this study. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized trial pilot study. Thirty patients with RAS were divided into three similar groups. The group one (n = 10) was treated with a diode laser, 660 nm, 40 mw, continuous wave, 1.2 J, 6 J/cm2, for five consecutive days (twice per day, 30 seconds each session). The second group (n = 10) was treated with a topical triamcinolone (adcortyl in orabase) ointment four times per day and the third group (n = 10) was treated with placebo (red light pen) the same way as Group 1. All the patients were evaluated with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before and after treatment on the consecutive days. The data was analysed by one way ANOVA and PostHoc tests. Results: The results show that the laser pen and triamcinolon in orabase ointment have similar results and both have better results than placebo in the control of the recurrent aphthous stomatitis pain (p value: 0.001). Conclusion: In this clinical pilot study the laser pen as a home care device seems to be useful for the treatment of RAS.

Highlights

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common problem, particular to the mouth, and typically starts in childhood or adulthood as recurrent small, round or ovoid ulcers with circumscribed margins, erythematous haloes, and yellow or gray floor
For cases with aphthous-like ulcer in AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) cases, diode 660 nm laser were used with good result [27]. (As the low level laser can modulate inflammatory mediator such as TNF-alpha, IL-6 and others, reduction of pain can be achived.) The healing of the aphthous ulcer can be attributed to the growth of the cellular activity, especially fibroblast, keratinocytes and immune cells
In this study laser pen is statistically better than laser placebo in pain reduction

Summary

Introduction

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common problem, particular to the mouth, and typically starts in childhood or adulthood as recurrent small, round or ovoid ulcers with circumscribed margins, erythematous haloes, and yellow or gray floor. RAS has three clinical types: minor, major and herpetiform ulcers. Ulcers with similar clinical features (aphthous-like ulcers) may be because of some systemic conditions such as Behçet syndrome, auto-inflammatory syndromes, gastrointestinal disease or immune defects. The etiology of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is not entirely clear. A genetic basis exists for some RAS and involvement of the cell-mediated mechanisms is possible, but the precise immunopathogenesis remains unclear. Phagocytic and cytotoxic T cells probably aid in destruction of oral epithelium that is directed and sustained by local cytokine release

Methods

Results

Conclusion