Efficacy of anti-inflammatory and analgesic of superpulsed low level laser therapy after impacted mandibular third molars extractions

The purpose of this study was to evaluate antiinflammatory and analgesic efficacy of superpulsed low level laser therapy (SLLLT) after bilateral extraction of impacted mandibular thirdmolars. Many studies in the literature show the anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy of laser therapy after oral surgery. The authors report the preliminary results of 25 patients who underwent bilateral extraction of mandibular eighths included in a single surgery. This is a split-mouth study, a site was randomized chosen to be treated with SLLLT at T0, 24 hours and 48 hours with a GaAs laser diode, whereas the other surgical site was evaluated as control. The suture was removed at 7 days and healing was controlled at 14 days. During the sessions were monitored and recorded the pain, using visual analog scale, and oedema with the visual analog scale and cephalometric measurements of cutaneous points (TR-GO, GO-CA, GO-SP, GO-PO). Each patient received only antibiotic prophylaxis and analgesic therapy as needed. Results indicate that in the treated site SLLLT determines a reduction in pain and swelling statistically significant compared with the control site (P<0.05). The authors found that the effectiveness of laser therapy is in the first 5 days after surgery, showing a significant reduction of pain and swelling in the treated site than the control site. This study suggests that the SLLLT has a potential in reducing the postoperative discomfort after impacted third molar extractions, due to a reduction in postoperative pain and swelling. Superpulsed low level laser therapy has no side effects and is well tolerated by patients. It also seems to have a role in reducing the intake of drugs.