AIM:The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on bone formation in cystic defects following cyst enucleation.PATIENTS AND METHODS:The sample was composed of sixteen patients with enucleated maxillary bony cystic lesions. With an age range from 20 - 44 grouped as eight Laser and eight Control patients. Laser group was subjected to low intensity diode laser immediately after surgery and then for three times per week for two weeks using a therapeutic laser irradiation. Group B (control group): patients were not subjected laser therapy.RESULTS:The predictor variable was exposure of bone defect to LLLT or none. The outcome variable was bone density changes measured by digital radiographs at day 1 and days 90 postoperatively. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups for the bone density at day 1. There was a statistically significant difference in bone density changes in each group at day 90: Significant at P ≤ 0.05. After adjusting for differences in day 1 for bone density, the estimated mean change in bone density changes at day 90 was significantly larger for Laser compared with control.CONCLUSION:The results of this study suggested that LLLT can enhance bone healing in maxillary cystic defects. This can serve as an adjunct method in preventing possible delayed healing and pathological fractures This also will be helpful for more researchers in early loading in case of dental implants to accelerate osseointegration.

BACKGROUND:Gingival hyperpigmentation is a common esthetical concern in patients with gummy smile or excessive gingival display. Laser ablation has been recognized recently as the most effective, pleasant and reliable technique. It has the advantage of easy handling, short treatment time, hemostasis, decontamination, and sterilization effect.AIM:In the present study we wanted to explore the efficacy of a 980 nm wavelength diode laser in gingival depigmentation clinically by using both VAS and digital imaging method as means of assessment.METHODS:Diode laser ablation was done for 15 patients who requested cosmetic therapy for melanin pigmented gums. The laser beam delivered by fiberoptic with a diameter of 320 µm, the diode laser system has 980 nm wave lengths and 3 W irradiation powers, in a continuous contact mode in all cases, the entire surface of each pigmented maxillary and mandibular gingiva that required treatment was irradiated in a single session. Clinical examination and digital image analysis were done and the patients were followed up for 3 successive months.RESULTS:There was a statistically significant change in prevalence of bleeding after treatment, as none of the cases showed any signs of bleeding 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after ablation. No statistically significant change was observed in the prevalence of swelling after treatment The VAS evaluation demonstrated that only 4 patients complained of mild pain immediately after the procedure. No pain was perceived from the patients in the rest of the follow up period. There was no statistically significant change in prevalence of pain immediately after treatment compared to pain during treatment. There was a decrease in cases with mild pain after 1 week, 1 month as well as 3 months compared to pain during treatment and immediately after treatment.CONCLUSION:Within the limitations of this study, the use of diode laser was shown to be a safe and effective treatment modality that provides optimal aesthetics with minimal discomfort in patients with gingival hyperpigmentation.

Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is defined as supplying direct biostimulative light energy to the cells. The wound healing process could be enhanced using low-level semiconductor diode lasers [1]. It has been reported that absorbed laser energy stimulates the molecules and atoms of the body's cells [2].While several studies have demonstrated that LLLT has stimulating effects on stem cells of the AbstractBackground. Experimental studies have shown that low level laser therapy (LLLT) has a positive local biostimulative effect in the early stage of bone healing. Platelet rich fibrin (PRF) also has been shown to be effective in the treatment of intrabony periodontal defects. Objectives. The objective of our experimental study was to demonstrate the combined effects of LLLT and PRF on bone healing. Material and Methods. Our experimental study was done over 80 bony cavities in 20 adult male rabbits, aged 12 months. An incision was made for exposure of the femur bone of all rabbits. Then, by using a large, round surgical bur, a perforated hole was made in the femur. The cavities induced in these rabbits were divided into 4 groups: The control group which was neither subjected to any laser irradiation nor filled with any bone substitute (group I); The bony defects were filled with PRF (group II); The cavities were subjected to low level laser (LLL) for biostimulation (group III); The cavities were subjected to LLL for biostimulation then were filled with PRF (group IV). Histological assessments of the four groups were done using a hematoxylin and eosin stain. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA and Bonferroni tests for comparisons between the four groups.Results. The area percentage of the newly formed bone in group IV was significantly higher than the other three groups. The area percentage of the newly formed bone in group III is significantly higher than group II. Conclusions. LLLT could induce bone formation in the bone defect at a faster rate than PRF. However, a combination of both LLLT and PRF as treatment modalities could induce bone formation in the bone defect more than that of LLLT or PRF alone (Dent. Med. Probl. 2016, 53, 3, 338-344).

BACKGROUND: Erosion is a widespread phenomenon with higher predilection in primary dentition. AIM: The aim of the present study is to assess the remineralising effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser application combined with CPP-ACPF after erosive demineralisation by Coca-Cola in primary teeth. METHODS: Fifty teeth (n = 10) were divided into; Group I: Artificial saliva, (Saliva natural, Medac, UK), Group II: CPP-ACPF (MI Paste Plus, GC Corp, USA), Group III: Er,Cr:YSGG (Waterlase iPlus, USA), Group IV: CPP-ACPF + Er,Cr:YSGG, Group V: Er,Cr:YSGG + CPP-ACPF. Teeth were immersed in Coca-Cola for 10 min, 5 times/day for 5 days. DIAGNOdent (DD) measurements were taken before and after the experiment. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in DD readings after erosive-treatment cycles in all test groups. The highest reading was in samples immersed in artificial saliva, and the lowest was in those subjected to combined CPP-ACPF and Er,Cr:YSGG laser application, regardless of the sequence used. There was no significant difference between samples immersed in artificial saliva, and after CPP-ACPF application. Similarly, there was no significant difference between samples treated by combined treatment of CPP-ACPF and Er,Cr:YSGG application. However, there was a significant difference between samples immersed in artificial saliva or treated with CPP-ACPF application and those subjected to combined treatment CPP-ACPF along with Er,Cr:YSGG. CONCLUSION: Combining Er,Cr:YSGG laser and CPP-ACPF paste significantly increased enamel remineralisation, regardless of the sequence implemented. Saliva naturally and CPP-ACPF application had a comparable effect on remineralisation.

Squamous cell carcinoma is a very common type of oral cancer that affects the health of people with an unacceptably high mortality rate attributed to the difficulties in detecting the disease at an early stage. Therefore, effective techniques for early diagnosis and effective therapy of oral cancer are necessary. In the present study, we exploit the ability of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to undergo coupled surface plasmon resonance when closely spaced to improve diagnosing squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. The prepared AuNPs are characterized by UV–VIS spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The size of the prepared AuNPs is 12 ± 2 nm with narrow size distributions and exhibited high stability with a zeta potential of − 16.5 mV. The light fluorescence of the normal and cancer cells is recorded before and after NP addition using a spectrometer upon excitation by 405-nm laser irradiation. Furthermore, the light reflectance of the examined samples is measured at different laser wavelengths (red to NIR region). The obtained results show that the cancer cells mixed with AuNPs produce a higher fluorescence peak at 489.2 nm than the cancer cells without AuNPs. Moreover, the optical diffuse reflectance analyses reveal that the addition of AuNPs enhances cancer detection especially at the 635-nm irradiation with sensitivity (94%), specificity (87%), and overall accuracy (91%).

BACKGROUND:The success of implants is associated first with their osseointegration, and later on with their survival rate. In recent years, many efforts have been exerted to develop implant design, geometry, materials and techniques to enhance the osseointegration process and also to increase the success rate of implant procedures. New techniques, like leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) and low-level laser treatment (LLLT), have been developed to enhance the osseointegration around dental implants.AIM:This study aims at accelerating bone osseointegration process around dental implant using new techniques to increase the success rate, to allow immediate or early loading of a dental implant, and to make a comparison between the various new techniques in dental implant procedures to figure out which technique will achieve the best results.METHODS:The study was conducted on a random sample of 40 male patients. Dental implants were placed in the posterior areas of the lower jaw. Patients were divided randomly into 4 groups; control group, LLLT group, L-PRF group and L-PRF plus LLLT group. They were assessed using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).RESULTS:The results showed significant differences between all groups over different measured times. All the groups showed improvement in comparison with Normal group, where L-PRF group showed the best result followed by (L-PRF+LLLT) group, while the LLLT group showed the least improvement in comparison with bothL-PRF group and (L-PRF+LLLT) group.CONCLUSION:The study demonstrates that L-PRF gives a better performance in the osseointegration around dental implants than LLLT.

BACKGROUND: Radiation caries is a serious complication to head and neck cancer (HNC) radiotherapy, for which the primary teeth are more susceptible to be affected. Preventive protocols are recommended to enhance dental structure resistance against the direct effects of radiotherapy. AIM: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of diode laser and two types of remineralizing agents on the microhardness of the primary teeth enamel and examine microstructural alterations. METHODS: Twenty primary molars were sectioned into two halves in a mesiodistal direction, to obtain 40 specimens, which were then randomly allocated into five groups. Group 1 (Control Negative) n = 5 was not subjected to any treatment or radiation. Group 2 (Control positive) n = 5 was gamma irradiated with a dose of 60 Gray. For Groups 3, 4, and 5, specimens were divided into two subgroups: A and B (n = 5/subgroup). Subgroups A were gamma irradiated, then exposed to different surface treatments: 3A:10% nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) paste, 4A: 5% sodium fluoride varnish (FV), and 5A: diode laser 980 nm. Subgroups B were exposed to surface treatments (3B: 10% nHA, 4 B: 5% FV, and 5B: diode laser 980 nm), then gamma irradiated. Surface micromorphology and microhardness were examined using environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), and Vickers microhardness tester, respectively. RESULTS: Group 2 (G) specimens possessed the lowest mean microhardness, while nHA-G (3B), G-Fl (4A), and L-G (5B) had significantly higher values. ESEM analysis showed an alteration in Group G and the obliteration of enamel micropores with remineralizing agents. The melting and fusion of enamel in laser subgroups were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that using FV, nHA, or diode laser increased microhardness and maintained the integrity of the enamel microstructure. Therefore, applying preventive strategies should be considered in HNC radiotherapy.

Objectives:The current study was conducted to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on recurrent aphthous stomatitis for reduction of pain score and ulcer size. Subjects and Methods: 28 participants with symptomatic minor recurrent aphthous ulcers were randomly allocated into two groups. The treatment group received a 980 nm diode laser and the control group received topical triamcinolone acetonide 0.1%. The measured outcomes included pain score as visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline, second day, and seventh day, and the lesion size at baseline and seventh day. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the laser and the corticosteroid groups when comparing VAS scores on day two (pain reduction was -2.2 ± 0.9 and -4.786 ± 1 for corticosteroid and laser groups respectively with a p-value of 0.001) and day seven (pain reduction was -4.643 ± 1.646 and -6.071 ± 1.439 for corticosteroid and laser groups respectively with a p-value of 0.024) in favor of the laser group. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was noticed between the laser and the corticosteroid groups regarding the decrease in lesion size (lesion diameter reduction was -3.036 ± 1.447 and -4.536 ± 1.846 for corticosteroid and laser groups respectively with a p-value of 0.024) in favor of the laser group. Two participants experienced severe mouth dryness after corticosteroid application. None of the laser patients experienced any side effects. Conclusion:LLLT can be considered a reliable alternative to topical steroids in the management of recurrent aphthous ulcers since it was more effective in reducing both pain intensity and ulcer size.