title: Improved wound healing by low-level laser irradiation after gingivectomy operations: a controlled clinical pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may induce morphological, molecular and cellular processes, which are involved in wound healing. The aim of this split-mouth controlled clinical trial was to assess the effects of LLLT on healing of gingiva after gingivectomy and gingivoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with inflammatory gingival hyperplasias on their symmetrical teeth were included in this study. After gingivectomy and gingivoplasty, a diode laser (588 nm) was randomly applied to one side of the operation area for 7 days. The surgical areas were disclosed by a solution (Mira-2-tones) to visualize the areas in which the epithelium is absent. Comparison of the surface areas on the LLLT-applied sites and controls were made with an image-analysing software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite the prolonged time needed for application, patients have tolerated LLLT well. While there were no statistically significant differences between the stained surface areas of the LLLT applied and the control sites immediately after the surgery, LLLT-applied sites had significantly lower stained areas compared with the controls on the post-operative third, seventh and 15th day (p<0.001 for each).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limitations of this study, the results indicated that LLLT may enhance epithelization and improve wound healing after gingivectomy and gingivoplasty operations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey. oozcelik@cu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozcelik
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cenk Haytac
authors.forename: Anatoly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kunin
authors.forename: Gulsah
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seydaoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000528:radiation effects*; D019214:Gingival Overgrowth / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005890:Gingivectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005893:Gingivoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects*