Infrared Thermography in the Evaluation of Dental Socket Healing After Photobiomodulation Therapy: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this article was to evaluate the efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in the alveolar tissue healing process post-extraction using infrared thermography (IT). Case Presentation: A 36-year-old male patient had teeth extractions (18 and 28). Four PBMT sessions (660 nm; 2 J per tooth) were performed in the region of tooth 28 and recorded with thermographic images to compare the healing process, bilaterally. In the first two postoperative sessions, the temperature was higher (hyperradiant) on the left side (treated). After the third laser application, the left side was hyporradiant. In later session, the treated side became hyperradiant compared to the control side. The alveolus of tooth 28 showed more rapid healing than tooth 18 over a period of 60 days. Conclusion: IT can be used to detect the favorable effect of PBMT on accelerating the healing process in the alveolus within 60 days after the tooth extraction.

Is Thermal Imaging a Helpful Tool in Diagnosis of Asymptomatic Odontogenic Infection Foci—A Pilot Study

“…In maxillofacial surgery, it is used to diagnose odontogenic foci of infection, cancers of the oral cavity and diseases of the maxillary sinuses and salivary glands [ 10 ], or to assess postoperative inflammation after tooth extraction [ 11 ]. Thermography has also been used to assess pain in patients after tooth extraction [ 12 ] or to characterize chronic orofacial pain.…”

“…Thermography has also been used to assess pain in patients after tooth extraction [ 12 ] or to characterize chronic orofacial pain. IRT is also used to assess the progress of socket healing after therapies such as photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) [ 11 ] or photodynamic therapy (PDT) [ 13 ]. Thermography is also used to assess the condition of thermally damaged dental pulp [ 14 ] after the use of the Electro Thermal Debonding (ETD) method.…”

Applicability of Infrared Thermography in Dentistry: Mini Review

“…Analysis of bone temperature changes during drilling of bone tissue for implant installation during the use of osteotomy equipment, maxillary sinus lift, post-operative analysis of surgical procedures has also been carried out using thermographic imaging [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41].…”

Efeito adjunto da fotobiomodulação sobre dor, edema e temperatura facial em pós operatório de cirurgia de enxerto ósseo em rebordo alveolar fissurado. Estudo clínico

“…A temperatura de uma superfície de área inflamada muda, não apenas em todo o corpo, mas também localmente, gerando vermelhidão, inchaço ou pirexia 18 . Após uma cirurgia, há o desenvolvimento da inflamação para o processo cicatricial, podendo a termografia ser uma técnica capaz de proporcionar informações sobre os processos pós cirúrgicos 19 e terapêuticos 20 .…”

“…Carvalho et al20 (2021) em um relato de caso sobre a avaliação da terapia de fotobiomodulação no processo de cicatrização do tecido alveolar pós-extração usando termografia infravermelha, observaram que o lado tratado com fotobiomodulação estava hiperirradiado em relação ao lado controle, possivelmente indicando o efeito favorável do laser no processo de cicatrização por acelerar o reparo tecidual.…”