Clinical evaluation of the effects of low-intensity laser (GaAlAs) on wound healing after gingivoplasty in humans

Abstract

Low-intensity laser therapy aims at pain suppression, edema reduction and acceleration of wound healing. The main goal of this study was to clinically evaluate the effects of Aluminum Gallium Arsenate laser - 670nm in wound healing after gingivoplasty in 11 patients. Surgery was performed in anterior superior and/or inferior regions. The right side of the patient (test group) received a laser energy density of 4J/cm², in a 48-hour interval, during one week, totalizing four sessions. The irradiation was punctual in a contact mode in three points. The left side did not receive irradiation (control group). Clinical evaluation was performed by five specialists in periodontology through photography of the treated areas at post-surgical periods of 7, 15, 21,30,60 days. The observers pointed the best healed side. The Sign test was used for statistical analysis with a confidence level of 5% (P<0.05). The examiners found a better pattern of healing sometimes in the test and sometimes in the control group until 21 days after surgery. After this period there was no apparent difference between them. There was no statistical difference between the sides (p>0.05). These results have shown that low-intensity laser therapy did not accelerate oral mucosa healing after gingivoplasty.

Improved wound healing by low‐level laser irradiation after gingivectomy operations: a controlled clinical pilot study

“…A wide range of lasers such as CO 2 , Nd:Yag, and Er:Yag are used in the field of periodontology for soft and hard tissue ablation, detoxification of root surfaces, pocket debridement, bacterial elimination and various surgical approaches (Cobb 2006). The basic principle of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is based on the biostimulation or the biomodulation effect (Walsh 1997, Damante et al 2004a, which consists of the fact that irradiation at a specific wavelength is able to alter cellular behaviour (Hopkins et al 2004, Posten et al 2005). These lasers work in the milliwatt range with wavelengths in the red or nearinfrared spectrum (400-900 nm) (Qadri et al 2005).…”

Laser Phototherapy at High Energy Densities Do Not Stimulate Pre-Osteoblast Growth and Differentiation

“…Research in humans failed to show that phototherapy stimulated wound healing. [6][7][8] The acceleration of bone cell proliferation and differentiation by lasers may be of great value in medicine and dentistry. Some studies found higher proliferation rates and bone nodule formation after low intensity laser irradiation.…”

The effect of low level laser (GaAlAs) therapy on the post-surgical healing of full thickness wounds in rabbits

“…Low level lasers work 1615 in the milliwatt (mW) range with wavelengths in the red or near infrared spectrum range (400-900 nm) [6]. In addition, low level lasers do not cut or ablate tissue; in fact the basic principle of low level laser therapy (LLLT) is based on the biostimulation or biomodulation effects that are induced by the laser [7,8]. Laser irradiation administered at a specific wavelength has been shown to alter cellular behavior [9,10].…”