title: Effects of low-level laser therapy as an adjunct to standard therapy in acute pericoronitis, and its impact on oral health-related quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as an adjunct to standard therapy in acute pericoronitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty acute pericoronitis patients were randomly assigned to one of four LLLT groups: (neodymium:yttrium-aluminum garnet [Nd:YAG] 1064-nm: n=20, 8 J/cm2, 0.25 W, 10 Hz, 10 sec; 808-nm diode: n=20, 8 J/cm2, 0.25 W, continuous mode, 10 sec; 660-nm diode: n=20, 8 J/cm2, 0.04 W, continuous mode, 60 sec; or a placebo laser control group: n=20). After standard treatment, LLLT or a placebo laser were applied to the treatment area at a distance of 1 cm from the buccal site. Interincisal opening, pain perception, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) were evaluated at baseline, 24 h, and 7 days after laser application. The data were analyzed by the one-way ANOVA test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the trismus and the OHRQoL in the Nd:YAG and the 808-nm diode groups were significantly improved when compared with the 660-nm diode and control groups at 24 h (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were detected on day 7 among the groups with regard to any of the parameters evaluated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate that both the 1064-nm Nd:YAG and the 808-nm diode lasers were effective in improving trismus and OHRQoL in acute pericoronitis. Taking into account the limitations of this study, we conclude that the 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser has biostimulatory effects and improves OHRQoL, making it suitable for LLLT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey. ufuxezer@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ufuk
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sezer
authors.forename: Abubekir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eltas
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ustün
authors.forename: Süleyman Ziya
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Senyurt
authors.forename: Kamile
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erciyas
authors.forename: Mutan Hamdi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Aras
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D010497:Pericoronitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult