GINGIVAL LESIONS RESULTING FROM AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES TREATED WITH PHOTOBIOMODULATION: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Abstract

<h3>Objectives</h3> To evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) on autoimmune gingival lesions. <h3>Study Design</h3> A systematic review was conducted through a comprehensive electronic search up to and including July 2020, using the search strategy determined in 4 electronic databases: MEDLINE-PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. <h3>Results</h3> Seventeen studies were included in this review, of which 7 were used for the meta-analysis. Women with oral lichen planus were the most affected patients, presenting gingival involvement concomitant to other sites, mainly the buccal mucosa and tongue. Meta-analysis results showed no significant differences between PBM and topical corticosteroid in pain reduction at baseline and 60-day follow-up; however, visual analogue and Thongprasom clinical scales showed significant reduction when compared before and after PBM at 30- and 60-day follow-up. <h3>Conclusions</h3> PBM has become an important tool in the management of autoimmune gingival lesions, showing significant pain reduction and improvement of clinical scores of the lesions after therapy, without showing significant differences when compared to topical corticosteroid therapy. There has been little strong evidence to assess the efficacy of PBM on autoimmune gingival lesions.