title: Low Intensity laser therapy in patients with burning mouth syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of low intensity laser therapy in patients with Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS). Thirty BMS subjects were randomized into two groups - Laser (LG) and Placebo (CG). Seven patients dropped out, leaving 13 patients in LG and 10 patients in CG. Each patient received 4 irradiations (laser or placebo) twice a week, for two consecutive weeks (blinded to the type of irradiation received). Infrared laser (AsGaAI) irradiations were applied to the affected mucosa in scanning mode, wavelength of 790 nm, output power of 20 mW and fluence of 6 J/cm2. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the therapeutic effect before and after each irradiation, and at all the control time periods: 7, 14, 30, 60 and 90 days after the last irradiation. One researcher delivered irradiation and another recorded the results. Both researchers were blinded, the first to the results, and the second to the type of radiation applied. The results were categorized according to the percentage of symptom level variation, and showed a statistically better response in LG in only two categories of the control checkpoints (p=0.02; Fisher's Exact Test). According to the protocol used in this study, low intensity laser therapy is as beneficial to patients with BMS as placebo treatment, indicating a great emotional component of involvement in BMS symptomatology. Nevertheless, there were positive results in some statistical analyses, thus encouraging further research in BMS laser therapy with other irradiation parameters.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo - USP, School of Dentistry, Department of Stomatology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Norberto Nobuo
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Sugaya
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo - USP, School of Dentistry, Department of Stomatology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Érica Fernanda Patrício da
authors.initials: ÉF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisa Nuclear - IPEN, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ilka Tiemi
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisa Nuclear - IPEN, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prates
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo - USP, School of Dentistry, Department of Stomatology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila de Barros
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo - USP, School of Dentistry, Department of Stomatology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivian Diane
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015990:Placebo Effect; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064232:Visual Analog Scale