Soft Laser Treatment Research Articles

Effect of soft laser on osseointegrated dental implants supported maxillary overdenture

Background/ Aim: Many difficulties are encountered in providing a successful single complete denture treatment. Among these problems are the ways to provide comfort, function, proper esthetics and retention for the maxillary complete dentures in patients with opposing natural dentition. The aim of this study deals with successful rehabilitation of edentulous maxillary ridge (split-mouth technique) opposing a natural teeth prosthetically, retained with dental implants in the canine and posterior regions, using a flapless surgical technique, with an exposure of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) after implant installment in order to evaluate its influence on the osseionegration, implant stability was evaluated using periotest at time of loading, 4 months and 6 months later to show the early success of dental implants placed into low- density bone. Also bone changes was evaluated by using digital periapical radiography with paralleling technique.Materials and methods: Following the split-mouth design, dental implants were inserted in the maxilla of 6 patients, the right side dental implants received LLLT ( laser side) with an output power of 0.5 UT and continuous mode was used to receive a total dose of 30 J per implant over 60 seconds, while the other side was the control side. The soft laser treatment was performed immediately after the surgery, 3 days and a week after surgery, then evaluated for stability during the follow-up period (at time of loading, 4 months and 6 months later) using periotest ,and further bone height changes using digital radiograph.Results: irradiated implants achieved a higher stability compared with control group during the entire follow-up period. At base line and after 4 months; there was no statistically significant difference between implant stability quotient (ISQ) values in the two sides. After 6 months; laser side showed statistically significantly higher mean ISQ values than control side.Conclusion: the present investigation demonstrated that 6 months after soft laser application significantly positively influenced implant stability and bone height around dental implants.

Photodynamic Therapy has no Adverse Effects In Vitro on Human Gingival Fibroblasts and Osteoblasts.

Invasion of periodontal pockets with persistent microorganisms and subsequent development of a biofilm are the main cause of periodontal infections. In severe cases, additional use of antibiotics to the standard therapy of scaling and root planing (SRP), is necessary, but the use of antibiotics may lead to resistance. As an alternative, the combination of SRP and adjunct photodynamic therapy (PDT) is applied in the treatment of periodontal infections to improve periodontal therapy. The aim of this study was to determine possible side effects of PDT on human gingival fibroblasts (GF) and human osteoblasts (OB). GF and OB were either untreated or treated with methylene blue (MB) only, with MB and subsequently irradiation with a soft laser (PDT) or irradiated with a soft laser only. All cells were analyzed for viability using the MTT test, migration capacity using Boyden chambers, and the scratch wound assay. Viability and migration capacity of GF and OB were not affected by PDT (for GF: p = 0.48, for OB: p = 0.08 compared to control group) whereas soft laser irradiation only improved cell viability and migration and MB treatment only reduced cell viability and migration. After 72 hours of incubation of both GF and OB, the gaps were almost closed. In vitro, PDT did not affect viability and migration capacity of GF and OB whereas soft laser treatment only had a positive effect on GF and OB. Therefore, PDT seems to be a safe method in the treatment of periodontal infections without significant side effects.

Effect of soft laser in bone repair after expansion of the midpalatal suture in dogs

The purpose of this research was to study the influence of soft laser treatment on the process of bone repair after expansion of the midpalatal suture. The sample for this case-control experimental study was 11 dogs. They were randomly divided into 2 groups, both of which underwent rapid maxillary expansion with a hyrax appliance. The animals in group 1 were also treated with laser therapy. They were killed, and histologic specimens of the palatal suture were prepared. The Student t test was applied for independent data, and the Mann-Whitney test was used for nonparametric data. A significant difference was observed in the quality of the palatal sutures between the animals in groups 1 and 2. The connective tissues of the sutures in the group 1 animals were similar to the original configurations, with more advanced osteogenesis and fibrogenesis, compared with those of group 2. Soft laser appears to influence the behavior of the repair process, contributing to suture reorganization and palatal bone osteogenesis during and after expansion.

Systematic Follow-Up of a Cohort of Smokers Who Received a Standard Smoking Cessation Intervention with Soft Laser Therapy

Background:Different techniques may help smokers quitting smoking. Recently soft laser treatment (SLT) has been used with reported – not documented – high success rates. We decided to conduct a systematic assessment of the charts of subjects treated at one SLT clinic in Montreal.Method: Historical cohort: Subjects treated by SLT during the period May to September 2005. Primary outcome: "not smoking" 6 months after the intervention. The intervention included SLT supported by complementary natural products – for comfort. 84 points were treated according to auriculotherapy principles. Sample size was calculated for precision around success rate. Statistical analysis was intent to treat (ITT) and per protocol.Results:Primary outcome: proportion of success at 6 months were 117/210 (44%), 95% CI: 38% - 51% with ITT approach and 93/167 (56%), 95% CI: 48% - 63% with per protocol analysis. Results at 12 months were 40% (33% - 46%) and 62% (54% - 70%) for the two approaches, respectively.Discussion:Our results suggest a possible effect of the SLT that would be in the high range of those observed with other interventions. However, absence of control group and other limitations prevent making any conclusion. Double blind placebo controlled randomized trials need to be conducted.

Pulsed laser deposition of pseudowollastonite coatings

Pseudowollastonite ( α-CaSiO 3) is a bioactive ceramic material that induces direct bone growth. A process to obtain pseudowollastonite coatings that may be applied to implants is described and evaluated in this work. The coatings were first deposited on titanium alloy by laser ablation with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser tripled in frequency. After deposition, they were submitted to a soft laser treatment with a continuous wave Nd:YAG infrared laser. Coatings were characterised by X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy before and after the laser treatment. As-deposited coatings are composed of pseudowollastonite and amorphous material. They have a porous structure of gathered grains and poor cohesion. After the laser treatment the coatings crystallinity and cohesion are improved. The laser treatment also makes the coatings dense and well adhered to the substrate. Therefore, this two-step process has been demonstrated as a valuable method to coat titanium implants with pseudowollastonite.

Laser's effect on bone and cartilage change induced by joint immobilization: an experiment with animal model.

Influence of low-level (810 nm, Ga-Al-As semiconductor) laser on bone and cartilage during joint immobilization was examined with rats' knee model. The hind limbs of 42 young Wistar rats were operated on in order to immobilize the knee joint. One week after operation they were assigned to three groups; irradiance 3.9 W/cm2, 5.8 W/cm2, and sham treatment. After 6 times of treatment for another 2 weeks both hind legs were prepared for 1) indentation of the articular surface of the knee (stiffness and loss tangent), and for 2) dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (bone mineral density) of the focused regions. The indentation test revealed preservation of articular cartilage stiffness with 3.9 and 5.8 W/cm2 therapy. Soft laser treatment has a possibility for prevention of biomechanical changes by immobilization.

Arthroscopic surgery compared with supervised exercises in patients with rotator cuff disease (stage II impingement syndrome)

To compare the effectiveness of arthroscopic surgery, a supervised exercise regimen, and placebo soft laser treatment in patients with rotator cuff disease (stage II impingement syndrome). Randomised clinical trial. Hospital departments of orthopaedics and of physical medicine and rehabilitation. 125 patients aged 18-66 who had had rotator cuff disease for at least three months and whose condition was resistant to treatment. Arthroscopic subacromial decompression performed by two experienced surgeons; exercise regimen over three to six months supervised by one experienced physiotherapist; or 12 sessions of detuned soft laser treatment over six weeks. Change in the overall Neer shoulder score (pain during previous week and blinded evaluation of function and range of movement by one clinician) after six months. No differences were found between the three groups in duration of sick leave and daily intake of analgesics. After six months the difference in improvement in overall Neer score between surgery and supervised exercises was 4.0 (95% confidence interval -2 to 11) and 2.0 (-1.4 to 5.4) after adjustment for sex. The condition improved significantly compared with placebo in both groups given the active treatments. Treatment costs were higher for those given surgery (720 pounds v 390 pounds). Surgery or a supervised exercise regimen significantly, and equally, improved rotator cuff disease compared with placebo.

The effect of soft-laser application on postoperative pain and swelling: A double-blind, crossover study

The effect of soft-laser application on postoperative pain and swelling was evaluated in a double-blind, crossover study. Twenty-five healthy adults with bilateral identically impacted lower third molars were selected for this study. The teeth were removed in two separate operations. Laser treatment was tested in comparison with placebo laser, with a 40-mW, 830-nm Biophoton laser (Roenvig Dental, Denmark). All surgical procedures and measurements were done by the same surgeon. The following features were statistically analyzed: swelling, trismus, and subjective registration of pain on a visual analog scale. No statistically significant differences were observed in comparison of the experimental side with the placebo side. It may be concluded that soft-laser treatment has no beneficial effect on swelling, trismus, and pain after third molar surgery.

The soft laser: Therapeutic tool or popular placebo?

Because of the alleged effectiveness of soft laser therapy in the treatment of a wide range of medical and dental conditions, it is becoming increasingly popular with both patients and practitioners. It was the purpose of this study to assess soft laser treatment of hypersensitive dentin, gingivitis, pulp-capped teeth, herpes labiasis, and nausea. Clinical trials demonstrated no advantage in augmenting or replacing conventional treatment of these conditions with soft laser therapy, despite its positive effect on patient attitude toward treatment.