title: The Effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy in Patients with Drug-Induced Hyposalivation: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare switched on and switched off (sham) low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of drug-induced hyposalivation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Hyposalivation is decreased salivary flow rate most frequently present in patients who take a lot of medication, suffer from Sjögren's syndrome, or were irradiated. Available therapies provide only short-term relief.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three participants (40 females and 3 males, average age 72.3 ± 8.9) participated in the study. Before therapy or after therapy, every participant fulfilled quality-of-life assessment scale (OHIP-CRO14). Unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates were measured before and after treatment. The LLLT was performed by the use of gallium-aluminum-arsenide (GaAlAs) laser (830 nm) on parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands every day except during weekends for 14 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant difference in unstimulated salivary flow rate after the treatment was found in the study group (p = 0.002) compared with the sham group. No significant difference in stimulated salivary flow rate after treatment was found in the laser group (p = 0.626) nor in the sham laser group (p = 0.233). No significant difference in patient's quality-of-life score was found after both treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study showed that the LLLT increased unstimulated salivary flow rate significantly. However, stimulated salivary flow rate did not increase significantly after the LLLT. In patients who underwent sham laser therapy, neither unstimulated nor stimulated salivary flow rate increased significantly.
authors.affiliation: 1 Private Dental Practice , Ljubljana, Slovenia .
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Terlević Dabić
authors.affiliation: 2 Private Dental Practice , Mostar, Croatia .
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jurišić
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine and Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb , Zagreb, Croatia .
authors.forename: Vanja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vučićević Boras
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Oral Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb , Zagreb, Croatia .
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gabrić
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb , Zagreb, Croatia .
authors.forename: Ivona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bago
authors.affiliation: 6 National Cancer Institute, Clinical Hospital Center Sisters of Mercy , Zagreb, Croatia .
authors.forename: Danko Velimir
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Vrdoljak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000532:radiotherapy*