Effects of low power Er:YAG laser on the tooth pulp-evoked jaw-opening reflex.
OBJECTIVE
Analgesic properties of laser irradiation have been of great interest in the field of dentistry. This study aimed at evaluating the analgesic effects of the Er:YAG laser system in rats during and after laser irradiation.


METHODS
A pulsed Er:YAG laser was applied to the oral mucosa of the mandibular incisor at an energy density of approximately 0.1 J/cm(2)/pulse for 10 minutes at 10 Hz, and the integrated digastric muscle electromyogram in tooth pulp-evoked jaw-opening reflex was used as an index of the nociceptive response.


RESULTS
Significant reflex suppression was observed 10 minutes after laser irradiation. The reflex amplitude started to return to its original level about 45 minutes after cessation of laser irradiation.


CONCLUSIONS
The Er:YAG laser used at low output levels presented inhibitory effects on the tooth pulp-evoked jaw-opening reflex, suggesting that this laser system may be of use for pain control during various dental treatments.
Zeredo
Jorge L
JL
Division of Integrative Sensory Physiology, Department of Developmental and Reconstructive Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan. jorge@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Sasaki
Katia M
KM
Fujiyama
Rie
R
Okada
Yukio
Y
Toda
Kazuo
K
D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000528:radiation effects*; D007568:Jaw / Q000502:physiology*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000528:radiation effects; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*