ORIGINAL / ORIGINAL

 

Low-intensity laser efficacy in postoperative extraction of third molars

 

Eficácia do laser de baixa intensidade no pós-operatório em exodontia de terceiros molares

 

Tiago Nascimento MILETO^I; Fabiano Goulart AZAMBUJA^I

 

^I Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Faculdade de Odontologia. Av. Universitária, 1105, Criciúma, SC, Brasil

Correspondence:

 

 

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ABSTRACT

The search for means that enable a better quality of life for postoperative patients should be incessant. The surgical extraction of third molars can result in potential complications such as pain, swelling and trismus, along with discomfort in the recovery phase. Therefore, this narrative review was to analyze, from systematic reviews and randomized clinical trials, the use of low level laser therapy as influencer the clinical state after third molar surgery. Scientific articles were searched through PubMed and Science Direct database. In spite of the evaluated studies have cited the effectiveness of laser therapy such as tissue repair, anti-inflammatory and analgesic, variety of analysis models and diversity of dosimetry leaves a gap on their true efficacy. Based on the research conducted, we suggest the adjuvant use of diode laser GaAlAs with 810 nm (λ), 100 mW constant power and 4 J/cm2 of energy, intra and extra oral form at least three sections to minimize possible occurrences of third molar surgery.

Indexing terms: Low-level light therapy. Molar third. Postoperative complications. Surgery, oral.

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RESUMO

A busca por meios que possibilitem uma melhor qualidade de vida pós-operatória aos pacientes deve ser incessante. O procedimento de exodontia de terceiros molares pode resultar em possíveis complicações, tais como dor, edema e trismo, juntamente com o desconforto na fase de recuperação. Dessa forma, esta revisão narrativa procurou analisar, a partir de revisões sistemáticas e estudos clínicos randomizados, a utilização da terapia a laser de baixa intensidade como influenciador do quadro clínico após cirurgias de terceiros molares. Os artigos científicos foram pesquisados através do banco de dados PubMed e Science Direct. Apesar dos estudos avaliados citarem a efetividade da laserterapia, como reparador tecidual, anti-inflamatório e analgésico, a variedade de modelos de análise e diversidade de dosimetrias deixa uma lacuna sobre sua verdadeira eficácia. Com base na pesquisa realizada, sugerimos a utilização adjuvante do laser diodo GaAIAs com 810 nm (λ), 100 mW de potência constante e 4 J/cm2 de energia, de forma intra e extraoral em pelo menos três sessões para minimizar as possíveis ocorrências da cirurgia de terceiros molares.

Termos de indexação: Terapia a laser de baixa intensidade. Dente serotino. Complicações pós-operatórias. Cirurgia bucal.

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INTRODUCTION

The surgical extraction of third molars (SETMs) is a habitual procedure in dental practice, practiced mainly by maxillofacial surgeons. Although usual, the removal of these teeth may present possible complications in the postoperative phase, even when the proper recommendation and planning are employed. In the transoperative phase, the well employed technical surgery and the meticulous perioperative care can minimize the frequency of complications and limit its gravity¹.

In general, among the probable complications post third molars extraction, we can mention alveolitis, bleeding, infection, pain, swelling, trismus, damage to the inferior alveolar nerve, bone fracture, oroantral communication, periodontal problems in surrounding teeth and teeth displacement to noble anatomic spaces². The knowledge of these conditions ought to be well elucidated by the dental surgeon, allowing the identification and counseling to high-risk patients, and the management of the conditions in the proper way¹.

In this context, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) advocates the preservation of evidence that grounds the dental practice. The recommendation of this entity focuses on the use of pertinent scientific data, with each case evaluated individually when considering the treatment options³. Besides the well-established conventional therapies, the low-level laser therapy (LLLT) comes as a support and not as a substitute, with the goal to help in the reestablishment of the biological balance, resulting in a more orderly and sometimes faster cure⁴.

Thus, the goal of this article was to comprehend the mechanism, use and proper designation of the LLLT as an influencer of the clinical picture in the postoperative phase in SETMs, as well as the formulation of a usage protocol for surgeries in a University Dental Clinic in Santa Catarina.

 

METHODS

The present narrative review aimed to evidence, through systematic reviews and randomized clinical studies, the use of the low-level laser therapy in the recovery of patients submitted to these surgeries. Considering the theme representativeness in the dental field, the research was done with publications from 2000 to the present moment. Papers with prior publication to this period were not applied, taking in consideration that the subject is recent, except for the publications considered indispensable for the theoretical foundation.

The sources for the literature review were electronic databases, such as PubMed and Science Direct. The databases were studied with the use of the following terms in English: "Dentistry", "Low-Level Laser Therapy", "Soft- Laser Therapy" and "Third Molar Surgery Complications"; and in Portuguese: "odontologia", "laser de baixa intensidade", "laserterapia", "exodontia de terceiros molares" and "complicações pós-cirúrgicas".

 

RESULTS

Laser is the light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation and its used was promoted aiming the action over the biological tissue⁵. Historically, the first successfully developed laser was from Theodore Maiman in 1960, with the ruby laser that was designed to emit in the visible red band⁶. Shortly afterward, in 1971, Mester and collaborators⁷ presented, in experimental studies with mice, the irradiation benefits of this kind of laser in the healing of wounds⁷. There are two types of laser, the highlevel ones and the low-level ones, being this one signaled as therapeutic for the resulting cell photoactivation⁴.

The therapeutic effectiveness promoted by light interaction is already elucidated by literature, although there is a lack of further development on how the laser energy acts on the organism cell levels and what the irradiation adequate parameters for the several indications⁸. In the last decades, the use of LLLT has increased as a non-pharmacological adjunct to the treatment with low collateral index⁸. In an in vitro study about the use of this kind of treatment to oral neoplasms, it was pointed that the therapy is known for its efficiency with pain reduction, wound healing and inflammation, and has also been under investigation for neurodegenerative disorders, strokes and traumatic cerebral injury⁹.

Laser is a light (electromagnetic radiation) that differs from conventional luminous sources, presenting certain special properties. Monochromaticity is the emission of photons with the same wavelength (λ), same frequency or color. The exit power variability of the equipment can be obtained with the same wavelength, there being devices that emit in the red light from 10 to 100 milliwatts (mW). Coherence is laser's most important characteristic, where a very wavelength with equal direction propagates in a periodic and ordered way. Collimation represents the little divergence of the light beam direction^5,10. The functioning regime or emission types translate the different ways of behavior according to time, where certain choice will demand a specific application, with two types: the continuous emission ones (cw), which remain on (constant exit power) and the pulsed regime ones (pw), which have oscillating exit power, that goes from a maximum value (peak power) until zero within a determined time (time length) (Figure 1)⁵.

The laser therapy action mechanisms involve the process of bio-stimulation in a molecular level^9,11. In a cell level, studies evidence that the laser beam penetrates in the interior of the tissue where it is absorbed by chromophore molecules (light absorbers) that generate the increase adenosine triphosphate quantities (ATP), accelerating the metabolism an producing a physiological response¹².

As in any other treatment, the use of laser therapy needs to be determined within important parameters, following physical and clinical factors for the obtainment of good results. The so-called irradiation parameters or dosimetry is the wavelength, power and energy density (ED). The wavelength or laser type ought to be specific for each treatment, although there is not a range of studies with representativeness to define the best type for each dysfunction⁵.

Even so, literature presents the different active means: the red emission laser (λ = 630 to 690 nm) indicated for ulcers, herpes and open wounds healing; the near infrared types (over 700 nm), like the gallium arsenide and aluminum diode laser (GaAlAs, λ = 790 to 830 nm) which is used for analgesia, swelling, tendinitis, nerve regeneration and chronic ulcers, and the gallium arsenide laser (GaAs, λ = 904 nm) indicated for the treatment of sports morbidity, postoperative pain and swelling/edema (Figure 2)⁵. Moreover, helium neon gas (HeNe, λ = 632,8 nm) and indium gallium arsenic phosphate (InGaAlP, λ = 633 nm) are mentioned, both indicated for wounds repair⁴.

Laser power is important to establish the calculus of the energy density to be administrated, from the average power, either from an equipment with pulsing or continuous regime. According to American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)⁵ the radiant power is the same as the electromagnetic radiation emitted, transmitted or received, with the watt (W) as the unit used according the international system of units. Other descriptors for the laser therapy dose are the exposure time and the energy density (Figure 3)⁵, with the latter considered by literature as the relation between the administrated laser energy and the irradiated surface, expressed in joules by square centimeter (J/cm2). The laser photo-activation does not occur exclusively in the region of placement of the ray beam, yet in a distribution area around it, in a tridimensional way⁴.

Currently many LLLT machines perform the calculus directly, with the necessity for the professional simply to insert the ED, which automatically results in the exposure time in relation to the power and the irradiated area, although some machines do not show the adequate dosimetry⁴.

The low-level laser therapy is internationally accepted as cell bio-modulator, used to reach ideal therapeutic effects, acting in the reduction of the pain response, with anti-inflammatory effects, stimulating local microcirculation and wounds repair, promoting a rapid recovery, which brings better quality of life to the patient¹¹. Furthermore, its therapeutic effects restore the neural function post damage and improve the remodeling bone repair¹³.

The postoperative conditions of the surgical extraction of third molars such as pain, swelling and trismus, followed by the discomfort during the healing phase are the main complaints mentioned in scientific studies^11,14-18. The same way that the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), with common use in surgical practice, the LLLT promotes the same results, however without the side effects. It is worth mentioning that, for immuno-impaired individuals, such as people with diabetes, the benefits described by this therapy are more significant, for they present the same tissue response, also in adverse conditions¹³.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCUSSION

This review analyzed the use of low-level laser therapy as an influencer in the postoperative phase in SETMs. Although the available studies present benefits for its use, it was noticed the lack of standardization for the irradiation parameters of this therapy.

A review performed in 2011⁸ with 22 scientific papers, with approaches in vitro and in vivo, evaluated the anti-inflammatory action of the low-level laser in the repair of wounds and a difference in patterns was verified. In this analysis, the doses used in humans were of 1,8; 5,0; 8,7 and 16 J/cm² (ED) and wavelengths between 632,8 and 904 nm, this variety in the parameters made the comparison of results more difficult. Nevertheless, there was a positive conclusion on the anti-inflammatory efficiency in the healing initial processes; however, different doses have produced similar physiological results⁸.

In another narrative revie¹¹, the laser therapy effect was evaluated in 12 studies, reinforcing its usage to reach ideal therapeutic effects in oral surgeries, especially for impacted third molars. Of these, only three were benefic considering the laser use, essentially following the same irradiation parameters¹¹. As an example, a clinical monitoring¹⁹ with 24 patients that presented positive effects with GaAIAs lasers for the control of postoperative trismus, with parameters in 670 nm (λ), 30 mW (cw) and total irradiation around 12 J (4 J/cm2) of energy¹⁹. Thus, the review presented controversial results due to the diversity of variables found, such as impaction degree, length of surgery, and mainly the irradiation parameters and dosimetry¹¹.

Two clinical trials performed in the cities of Cairo²⁰ and Belgrade²¹ with 180 patients compared the analgesia in the postoperative phase with the use of LLLT and the preoperative medical use of 100 mg of diclofenac sodium (NSAIDs). Their irradiation regimes used were similar: λ 870 and 637 nm, with 4 J/cm² (ED) for both studies and constant power with 80 and 50 mW, using the near infrared laser type (GaAIAs) with intraoral placement 10 minutes after the procedure with one centimeter of distance^20-21. The results of these studies have shown a decrease in the pain intensity in patients who were treated with laser therapy in comparison to the ones treated only with medication. Moreover, it was suggested the possibility that one dose of energy lower than 4 J/ cm² would not significantly influence the postoperative analgesia²¹.

In Tehran University of Medical Sciences¹⁷ a research done in 2012 evaluated 100 patients under the effects of diode type laser in the control of the postoperative pain, through a double-blinded randomized clinical trial divided in two groups (laser and irradiation with no control). The dosimetry used was of 810 nm (λ), 100 mW (cw) and 4 J/ cm2 of energy, not escaping from the standards mentioned previously¹⁶. Likewise, other clinical studies performed in Mexico¹⁵ and in Barcelona²², evaluated the effectiveness in the control of pain, swelling and trismus. Such researches presented positive effects with the use of LLLT in the recovery of patients, although with no relevant differences, emphasizing its use as a support in the treatment. However, one of the projects¹⁵ pointed out that in the need for rescue medication, patients who did not receive laser therapy had less solicitation time.

A systematic review and meta-analysis surveyed randomized and aleatory clinical trials that evaluated the effects of any type of laser therapy in patients that underwent SETMs. The study included 10 trials published in the period from 1990 to 2011, with 581 patients evaluated with the goal to answer whether the adjuvant use of laser was efficient or not for such complications23. There were no restrictions regarding the patients characteristics, type or administration regime of LLLT and of the measuring methods of the results. The irradiation parameters were varied, with wavelengths in 632,8; 810; 829 and 830 nm, constant powers in 8; 10; 30; 36 and 100 mW and energy doses in 4; 10; 11,3 J/cm².

Such meta-analysis²³ stood out for being the first broad review on the subject. However, the number of patients who were evaluated did not represent great expressiveness, in comparison to the number of people who go through this type of procedure every year. From the results, it was suggested that the laser therapy used in these studies was not efficient to reduce the pain state and the swelling, but it was benefic to minimize the trismus²³.

Confronting the former review, a clinical trial performed in Croatia in 2013¹⁷ evaluated 150 patients comparing LLLT with antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) after the removal of third molars, with aleatory division in three groups (LLLT, n = 50; PDT, n = 50 and control, n = 50)¹⁷. In the PDT group, after suture, the photosensitive substance named toluidine chloride (155 μg/ml) was applied in the surgery area. After 60 seconds, the region was washed with saline solution and irradiated for 60 seconds (2 x 30 seconds) with laser of 660 nm (λ), 90 mW (cw) and 5 J/cm2 (ED) with application of 180 seconds (2 x 90 seconds). The authors concluded that the PDT presented better results, and both groups that received laser therapy did not present complications during the healing phase, oppositely from the control group. Moreover, it was shown that the use of a laser therapy could reduce the use of analgesics by patients in the postoperative phase¹⁷.

From the lack of standardization in the methods and parameters found in literature, a randomized clinical trial, controlled and double-blinded, was performed in São Bernardo do Campo in 2013¹⁸, aiming to compare four different parameters of LLLT irradiation facing the clinical picture. Such research used the diode laser GaAIAs with power in 100 mW (cw) and total energy in 12 J, with application in the final moment of surgeries in two types of sites during 30 seconds/point (4 points), where 60 patients were divided in five groups (laser λ 660 nm with intraoral application; laser λ 808 nm with intraoral application; laser λ 660 nm with extraoral application; laser λ 808 nm with extraoral application; and control group)¹⁸.

The research revealed some partial results bringing the outcome regarding the pain picture of the treatment²⁴. The evaluations were performed on the second and seventh day after the procedure, through the visual analog scale (VAS) and numerical rating scale of 101 points (NRS-101)²⁴. These scales were greatly used in studies to measure pain, being VAS more commonly used in the postoperative phase of SETMs^15,18,22-24. Considering the intragroup analysis of the studied mentioned above, all of those who received the irradiation presented significantly reduction between the second and the seventh day after the surgery, except for the extraoral red laser group (660 nm). However, from the results among the groups, in any of the scales to measure the postoperative pain, none of the irradiation parameters presented great differences from the control group²⁴.

From the findings in literature for our review, it was defined a table (Table 1) with the most used dosimetries.

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

The recovery of patients who underwent the extraction of third molars, in most cases, is followed by complications like pain, swelling and trismus. As an alternative treatment, low-level laser therapy acts on the cell levels of the organism and its use has increased gradually in dentistry, aiming to bring quality of life in the postoperative phase.

The efficiency of LLLT is mentioned by literature in several models of studies, acting as an anti-inflammatory, tissue restorative and softening the use of analgesics. On the other hand, the variety of parameters used leaves a gap on its real effectiveness, considering that the studies attest its efficiency, however as a supporting treatment.

The limitations of the present review include the heterogeneity of the format of the studies available in the literature, with their distinct variables and dosimetries. It is suggested the accomplishment of more broad and longitudinal clinical trials with standardization in the variables and in the irradiation parameters, aiming to favor the real benefits of this therapy.

Based on this review, we suggest the supporting use of diode laser GaAIAs with 810 nm (λ), 100 mW of constant power and 4 J/cm2 of energy, in the intra and extraoral forms, in at least three moments, in the surgery after the suture, in 48 and 72 hours to minimize possible occurrences from surgery of third molars. This suggested dosimetry presents positive results in works with high level of scientific evidence.

 

Collaborators

TN MILETO, conception and delineation of the theme, writing the manuscript, research and analysis of the data collected. FG AZAMBUJA, delineation of the proposed theme, orientation and critical review for final article approval.

 

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Correspondence to:
TN MILETO
e-mail: tmileto@gmail.com

 

Received on: 16/12/2015
Final version resubmitted on: 3/8/2016
Approved on: 17/11/2016