Photobiomodulation Effect of Low-level Laser Therapy as a Palliative Treatment of Symptomatic Geographic Tongue (A Double-blinded Randomized Clinical Trial)

Abstract

To evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation (PBM) of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as a palliative treatment of symptomatic geographic tongue. This randomized double-blinded controlled clinical trial was performed on 50 patients with symptomatic geographic tongue (GT). Participants were allocated randomly into study and control groups. A 660-nm diode laser was applied on randomly selected patients of the study group (n = 25) over the complained site for 2 minutes with continuous laser beam application. For the control group (n = 25), no application of 660-nm diode laser was performed. None of the participants were aware if they received the LLLT or placebo treatment. Patients were assessed for the level of pain, burning sensation, and size of the lesion before starting LLLT "T0" and during recall visit "T1, T2, and T3." The study group showed a low level of pain, burning sensation, and better healing with statistically significant differences at T2 and T3 of the follow-up period, with a level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Low-level laser therapy can be used to adequately relieve significant discomforts associated with GT and accelerate healing and restoring of the patient's quality of life. To develop a framework based on the results regarding the photobiomodulation effect of a 660-nm diode laser to relieve pain and burning sensation associated with symptomatic GT, which increases patients' perception toward the services provided to them.