The Involvement of Photobiology in Contemporary Dentistry—A Narrative Review

Abstract

Light is an emerging treatment approach that is being used to treat many diseases and conditions such as pain, inflammation, and wound healing. The light used in dental therapy generally lies in visible and invisible spectral regions. Despite many positive results in the treatment of different conditions, this therapy still faces some skepticism, which has prevented its widespread adoption in clinics. The main reason for this skepticism is the lack of comprehensive information about the molecular, cellular, and tissular mechanisms of action, which underpin the positive effects of phototherapy. However, there is currently promising evidence in support of the use of light therapy across a spectrum of oral hard and soft tissues, as well as in a variety of important dental subspecialties, such as endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, and maxillofacial surgery. The merging of diagnostic and therapeutic light procedures is also seen as a promising area for future expansion. In the next decade, several light technologies are foreseen as becoming integral parts of modern dentistry practice.

Photobiomodulation on isolated mitochondria at 810 nm: first results on the efficiency of the energy conversion process

“…Overall, this unclear understanding of the phenomenon at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels, along with the difficulty of standardizing the observed effects, has led to an incomplete acceptance of this therapy in many medical fields, despite a robust literature aimed at demonstrating the positive effects of photobiomodulation 16 , 17 .…”

Light in Orthodontics: Applications of High-Intensity Lasers, Photobiomodulation, and Antimicrobial Photodymanic Therapies in Daily Practice

“…For patients with painful TMD, PBMT can be beneficial in reducing pain, modulating inflammation, and promoting muscular relaxation [15]. It is important to emphasize that these applications represent a few examples of the many ways in which light therapies can enhance treatments in the general practice of dentistry [4].…”

“…In dentistry, class 3B (low-intensity) and class 4 (high-intensity) lasers are commonly used for a variety of procedures, including hard and soft tissue treatments based on photoablation, photothermal, photobiomodulation, and antimicrobial photodynamic phenomena [3]. Depending on the chosen equipment and parameters of irradiation (wavelength, power output, energy density, and mode of emission, among others), it is possible to promote the debridement of soft and hard tissues, disinfection, regulation of inflammation, analgesia, and acceleration of wound healing [4]. Thus, the use of lasers in dental practice has evolved greatly, now attracting special attention from orthodontists.…”

Effects of low‐level Er:YAG laser irradiation on proliferation and gene expression in primary gingival fibroblasts isolated from mouse maxilla

“…Mechanical debridement, including scaling and root planing (SRP), is a necessary procedure for initial periodontal treatment [2]. Many types of lasers have been widely applied as adjunct therapies for periodontal treatment [3,4]. An erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser operates at an infrared wavelength (2940 nm) and is highly absorbed in water and hydroxyapatite [5].…”