The evaluation of healing effect of low-level laser treatment following gingivectomy

Abstract

Background: Lasers have been investigated as an alternative or adjunctive tool to conventional procedures commonly used in periodontology. The application of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in dentistry was proposed to provide minimally invasive and painless treatment as well as increasing the comfort for the patient following surgery. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of LLLT on healing following gingivectomy. Methods: Twenty patients with inflammatory gingival enlargement on their maxillary or mandibular anterior region were included in this study. Patients were divided randomly into two groups (test group consist of ten patients) after gingivectomy a diode laser (660 nm) was applied to the wound area immediately post-surgery, 3 and 5 days post-surgery. The control group (ten patients) did not receive laser irradiation. Healing was evaluated clinically using healing score and visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: The laser-treated group had significant improvement regarding the healing score at 5, 7, and 14 days p.s., and significant improvement in visual analogue scale (VAS) score was observed at day 3, 5, and 7 p.s., than the control group. Conclusion: LLLT can be used as an effective adjunctive treatment following gingivectomy procedure to promote healing and decrease patients’ discomfort.