Laser Therapy and Endodontic Treatment: Major Considerations and Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Laser application in endodontics has increased due to its safety and effectiveness in dental treatments, involving dentin hypersensitivity, removal of decayed tissues, dental preparations, pulp capping or pulpotomy, and root canal treatment. Postoperative pain after endodontic treatments is a common complication, affecting 3% to 58% of patients. Low-level laser therapy has been used in dentistry to promote analgesia, modulation of inflammation, and tissue healing. Objective: performed a concise systematic review to present the main clinical outcomes of endodontic treatment with low-intensity laser therapy. Methods: The research was carried out from April 2021 to July 2021 and developed based on Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, and Google Scholar, following the Systematic Review-PRISMA rules. The quality of the studies was based on the GRADE instrument and the risk of bias was analyzed according to the Cochrane instrument. Results: After the selectivity of articles and literary findings through the following descriptors, a total of 65 studies were analyzed, with only 17 medium and high-quality studies selected, according to GRADE rules, and with risks of bias that do not compromise scientific development. The authors showed that low-intensity laser therapy has the property of oral sterilization, facilitating tissue healing after surgical procedures. The effects related to anti-inflammatory and analgesic capacities with the application of low-intensity laser were also evidenced. Conclusion: Laser therapy has been shown to improve the healing of soft and hard tissues after endodontic surgery and has also shown favorable effects on pain and patients' quality of life.