Histomorphometric study of the healing of human oral mucosa after gingivoplasty and low-level laser therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of diode laser irradiation on the healing of human oral mucosa.


METHODS
After gingivoplasty, the right hemi-arch (test group) of 16 patients was irradiated with a diode laser. The left side (control group) was not irradiated. Incisional biopsies were performed on both sides at 7, 14, 21, and 60 days after surgery and morphometrically analyzed by light microscopy.


RESULTS
Epithelium width ranged from 260.6 to 393.5 microm. Volume densities of basal (20.2%), prickle cell (55.6%), and cornified (24.2%) layers remained stable. The peak number of neutrophils were 6 cells/mm(2) and the mononuclear cells were 44 cells/mm(2). Collagen fibers (80%) and fibroblasts (14%) occupied the main volume of connective tissue. The one-way ANOVA and the paired Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Low-level laser therapy did not accelerate the healing of oral mucosa after gingivoplasty.
Damante
Carla A
CA
Bauru School of Dentistry-University of São Paulo-Department of Periodontology, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil. cdamante@rocketmail.com
Greghi
Sebastião L A
SL
Sant'Ana
Adriana C P
AC
Passanezi
Euloir
E
Taga
Rumio
R
D005885:Gingival Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery; D005893:Gingivoplasty; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects*