title: Effect of Diode Laser on Healing of Tooth Extraction Socket: An Experimental Study in Rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy on healing of extracted tooth socket of healthy rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample of this study was 20 male rabbits of 2-2.5 kg weight with age range of 8-12 months. Right and left lower first premolar teeth were extracted. The extraction sockets of lower right first premolar were irradiated with 0.9 W gallium-aluminum-arsenide (GaAlAs) diode laser for 5 min, immediately after extraction and then every 72 h for the next 12 days. The extraction socket of left side were not exposed to laser and served as a control. The animals were sacrificed after 7, 14, 30 and 45 days and the experimental and control sockets were removed from the harvested mandibles and prepared for haematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's stain. The prepared slides were examined under light microscope for histological and histomorphometric examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The histological examination showed that diode laser-treated sockets demonstrated early formed new bone with faster maturation of primary bone to secondary bone as compared to non-treated control sockets. Histomorphometric analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in the density and volume of trabecular bone in laser-treated sockets than control sockets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diode laser application to tooth extraction socket has a positive effect on bone formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region Iraq.
authors.forename: Shehab Ahmed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hamad
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Duhok University, Duhok, Kurdistan Region Iraq.
authors.forename: Jandar S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Naif
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan Region Iraq.
authors.forename: Mahdi A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abdullah
keywords: Diode laser; Healing; Rabbit; Tooth socket