title: The effect of low level laser therapy on pain during dental tooth-cavity preparation in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of low level laser therapy on pain during cavity preparation with laser in paediatric dental patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out on 10 children aged 6 to 9 years old for a total of 20 primary molar teeth. For laser preparation an Er: YAG laser was used. Half of the preparations were treated by low level laser therapy (LLLT) before laser preparation and the remaining half without LLLT (non-LLLT) before laser preparation. All cavities were prepared by ER:YAG laser, restored with light-cured composite resin following the application of acid etching and bonding agent. Children were instructed to rate their pain on the visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 to 5 points. Statistical analyses were performed using Mann Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VAS Median (min-max) scores were 1(0-2) for LLLT and 3(1-4) for the non-LLT treated children. Between LLLT and non- LLLT groups results were statistically significant (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of LLLT before cavity preparation with laser decreased pain in paediatric dental patients.
authors.affiliation: Marmara Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fak. Pedodonti AD, İstanbul 34365, Turkey. itanboga@marmara.edu.tr
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tanboga
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Altinok
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peker
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ertugral
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000528:radiation effects; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000528:radiation effects