Photobiomodulation and implants: implications for dentistry

Abstract

The use of dental implants has become a mainstay of rehabilitative and restorative dentistry. With an impressive clinical success rate, there remain a few minor clinical issues with the use of implants such as peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis. The use of laser technology with implants has a fascinating breadth of applications, beginning from their precision manufacturing to clinical uses for surgical site preparation, reducing pain and inflammation, and promoting osseointegration and tissue regeneration. This latter aspect is the focus of this review, which outlines various studies of implants and laser therapy in animal models. The use of low level light therapy or photobiomodulation has demonstrated its efficacy in these studies. Besides more research studies to understand its molecular mechanisms, significant efforts are needed to standardize the clinical dosing and delivery protocols for laser therapy to ensure the maximal efficacy and safety of this potent clinical tool for photobiomodulation.

Bacterial adhesion mechanisms on dental implant surfaces and the influencing factors

“…Although the exact molecular mechanism is not fully understood, significant clinical effects including analgesia, reduced inflammation and accelerated wound healing are well known [186,187]. A recent review and several previous research articles in animal models have highlighted the potential of PBM to improve dental implant stability by increasing osteocyte viability, osteoclast proliferation and improving bone repair and osseintegration [171,[188][189][190], although there exist limited randomized clinical trials in this area.…”

“…Applications include fabrication and modification of surface topology (e.g. selective laser sintering); ablative methods for hard and soft tissue preparation; decontamination of the implant surface or surgical site (laser therapy, or photodynamic therapy); and therapeutic effects to reduce pain, inflammation and promote wound healing (photobiomodulation) [171].…”

Effects and Action Mechanism of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT): Applications in Periodontology

“…Since then, numerous studies on a cellular level, laboratory animals, and in humans have confirmed the beneficial effect of laser treatment on wound healing. It has been argued that the best time to apply LLLT is at the stage of cell proliferation [35,36]. It has been shown that LLLT can cause increased bFGF production, which exerts mitogenic activity and induces angiogenesis and tissue repair [37,38].…”

“…Moreover, it appeared that the torques required to export osseointegrated implants and the percentages of calcium and phosphorus (ratio by weight) in peri-implant bone were statistically higher in the group of animals that received LLLT. It was concluded that increased levels of calcium and phosphorus demonstrate faster bone maturation, hence faster [35,36]. By applying LLLT with diode laser in in vitro studies, it was shown that there was an increase in cell proliferation, increased adhesion of primary fibroblast cultures and osteoblasts on titanium surfaces, as well as an increase in cell proliferation and differentiation of tumor osteoblasts series (osteoblast like cells), and TGF-b and osteocalcin production by cells of tumor lines [76].…”

Aplicação Do Laser No Tratamento Da Periimplantite

“…O laser é indicado na Implantodontia para descontaminação da superfície de implantes e tratamento da periimplantite, diminuição de edema, dor e inflamação no pós-operatório, em procedimentos de segundo estágio cirúrgico de implantes submersos (incisão/excisão), cirurgia plástica de tecidos moles e, de maneira experimental, durante o preparo do leito ósseo previamente à instalação de implantes 12,13 . No entanto, é importante o treinamento adequado profissional a respeito do uso do laser a fim de melhorar os resultados clínicos e controlar possíveis complicações, como lesões a estruturas anatômicas nobres e danos à superfície dos implantes.…”