title: Thermographic and clinical evaluation of 808-nm laser photobiomodulation effects after third molar extraction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A randomized, blind, controlled clinical study was conducted with a convenience sample of 24 patients to evaluate the effectiveness of an aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) infrared laser 808 nm after third molar extraction by the use of infrared thermography technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were divided into four groups: erupted third molars were extracted from the patients in Group I and Group II, and impacted third molars were extracted from the patients in Group III and Group IV. Group I and Group III received mock laser therapy in which the device was powered off, and Group II and Group IV were exposed to laser light. Postoperative clinical parameters related to the third molar extraction were evaluated; these parameters included pain, trismus and edema. Circulatory patterns were also evaluated by infrared thermography that exhibited local temperature coefficient at different postoperative periods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A slight improvement was observed for swelling, pain and trismus in patients who received laser irradiation, although the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Laser therapy had a significant influence on the local circulation in the area near the temporomandibular joint, as determined by infrared thermography (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser therapy was able to change the local circulation, although it did not significantly influence swelling, pain or trismus during the postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Basic Science, Salvador, Brazil - alenamedrado@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Amanda A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Pedreira
authors.forename: Flavia G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Wanderley
authors.forename: Maira F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Sa
authors.forename: Camila S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Viena
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoshi
authors.forename: Marcia P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Silvia R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Alena P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Medrado
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004487:Edema / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013817:Thermography; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery; D014313:Trismus / Q000532:radiotherapy; D055815:Young Adult