title: Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of low-level laser therapy on the postoperative healing process.
abstract: [Purpose] This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of intraoral application of low-level laser therapy (660 nm) to control pain, swelling and interincisal opening following the extraction of mandibular third molars. [Subjects and Methods] Ten patients underwent removal of lower third molars using the same surgical protocol and pharmacological approach. In the postoperative period, all patients received four consecutive daily sessions of low-level laser therapy, beginning 24 hours after the surgery. Intraoral applications using the diode laser with 660 nm wavelength in the continuous scan mode were performed covering the entire surgical area, which was divided into four quadrants, each of 1 cm(2) area at a distance of 1 cm. The energy applied at each point was 5 J/cm(2) during 8 seconds. [Results] The swelling and interincisal opening returned to normal 24 hours after the first low-level laser therapy application (Friedman test). Moreover, the pain intensity was reduced on the third postoperative day, according to the Friedman test. [Conclusion] Low-level laser therapy (660 nm), at the dosimetry used in this study, was effective in reducing postoperative pain and swelling following oral surgery.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Northern Parana, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hebert S C
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Fabre
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Maringa State University, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of Northern Parana, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula V P
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Oltramari-Navarro
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Research Center, University of Northern Parana, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Research Center, University of Northern Parana, Brazil.
authors.forename: Deise A A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Pires-Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Research Center, University of Northern Parana, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo A C
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Andraus
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, Pontifical University Catholic of Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fuirini
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Research Center, University of Northern Parana, Brazil ; School of Medicine, Pontificial University Catholic of Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karen B P
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Fernandes
keywords: Inflammation; Low-level laser therapy; Rehabilitation