Effects of low-level laser therapy on bone healing of critical-size defects treated with bovine bone graft.
OBJECTIVE
To histomorphometrically analyze the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on bone formation process in surgically created critical-size defects (CSDs) treated with bovine bone graft (BBG) and its influence over particles' resorption of BBG.


METHODS
A 10-mm diameter CSD was surgically created in the calvaria of 64 male rats, which were distributed into 4 experimental groups: the C group (control), only blood clot; the LLLT group, LLLT (GaAlAs, 660nm) and blood clot; the BBG group, CSD filled with BBG; the BBG/LLLT group, LLLT and CSD filled with BBG. Animals were euthanized at either 30 or 60days post-operation. A histological analysis was performed. Additionally, the percentage of newly formed bone area (NFBA) and remaining particles areas (RPA) of BBG were histometrically evaluated and data statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
The LLLT (5.82±2.05; 7.34±1.01) group presented significantly greater NFBA when compared to the C group (1.61±0.30; 5.59±0.94) at 30 and 60days post-operation (p<0.05). The BBG/LLLT group (7.39±1.45; 9.44±2.36) presented significantly greater NFBA than the BBG group (3.85±1.56; 8.02±0.63) at 30 and 60days postoperation (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean percentage of implanted material RPA between the BBG and the BBG/LLLT groups.


CONCLUSIONS
LLLT can improve bone formation process in CSD filled or not with BBG in rat calvaria, but it is not able to accelerate particles resorption of this material in the interior of bone defect.
Univ. Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Division of Periodontics, Department of Surgery and Integrated Clinic, Dental School of Araçatuba, Rua José Bonifácio, n° 1193, CEP: 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: afbosco@hotmail.com.
Alvaro Francisco
AF
Bosco
Univ. Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Division of Periodontics, Department of Surgery and Integrated Clinic, Dental School of Araçatuba, Rua José Bonifácio, n° 1193, CEP: 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: paulal.faleiros@hotmail.com.
Paula Lazilha
PL
Faleiros
Univ. Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Division of Periodontics, Department of Surgery and Integrated Clinic, Dental School of Araçatuba, Rua José Bonifácio, n° 1193, CEP: 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: luanarcarmona@yahoo.com.br.
Luana Rodrigues
LR
Carmona
Univ. Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Division of Periodontics, Department of Surgery and Integrated Clinic, Dental School of Araçatuba, Rua José Bonifácio, n° 1193, CEP: 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil; University Center of Educational Foundation of Barretos - UNIFEB, Department of Periodontics, Dental School of Barretos, Avenida Professor Roberto Frade Monte, n° 389, CEP: 14783-226 Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: vg.garcia@uol.com.br.
Valdir Gouveia
VG
Garcia
Univ. Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Division of Periodontics, Department of Surgery and Integrated Clinic, Dental School of Araçatuba, Rua José Bonifácio, n° 1193, CEP: 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: letheodoro@uol.com.br.
Letícia Helena
LH
Theodoro
Univ. Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Division of Periodontics, Department of Surgery and Integrated Clinic, Dental School of Araçatuba, Rua José Bonifácio, n° 1193, CEP: 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: nathaliajanuario@outlook.com.
Nathália Januario
NJ
de Araujo
Univ. Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Division of Periodontics, Department of Surgery and Integrated Clinic, Dental School of Araçatuba, Rua José Bonifácio, n° 1193, CEP: 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: mjnagata@uol.com.br.
Maria José Hitomi
MJ
Nagata
Univ. Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Division of Periodontics, Department of Surgery and Integrated Clinic, Dental School of Araçatuba, Rua José Bonifácio, n° 1193, CEP: 16015-050 Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: jumilanezi@hotmail.com.
Juliano Milanezi
JM
de Almeida
D000818:Animals; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002417:Cattle; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000528:radiation effects; D051381:Rats; D012886:Skull / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery
Bone grafting; Bone regeneration; Calvaria; Low-level laser therapy