Effect of high-intensity laser therapy and photobiomodulation therapy on oral lichen planus—a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) and Photobiomodulation (PBM) in treating Oral Lichen Planus (OLP), and explores optimal PBM parameter settings. A search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, and SinoMed was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on laser therapy for OLP up to October 30, 2024. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Jadad score. Eighteen studies were identified, with 16 involving 742 participants included in the meta-analysis. Eleven studies compared PBM with topical corticosteroids (TCS), and five compared HILT with TCS. HILT provided superior pain relief compared to TCS (SMD = -0.51, 95% CI [-0.79,-0.23]), while PBM showed comparable outcomes (SMD = -0.41, 95% CI [-0.87, 0.04]). PBM was more effective at pain relief with total energy density below 120 J/cm2. Both HILT and PBM reduced recurrence rates (RR = 0.33,95%CI [0.15,0.73]; RR = 0.43, 95% CI [0.25, 0.74]) and improved cure rates (RR = 1.44, 95% CI [1.01, 2.06]; RR = 1.47, 95% CI [1.05, 2.05]). PBM had no adverse reactions, while HILT and TCS had associated adverse events. HILT and PBM may be considered effective alternatives to TCS. For PBM treatment of OLP, a total energy density below 120 J/cm2 is advisable. Further large-scale studies are required to confirm these findings and refine laser parameters.