Light therapy may reduce 3rd-molar surgery adverse events

Infrared laser photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy may be a beneficial aid in recovery following lower third-molar extraction, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice.

Furthermore, light therapy may help alleviate pain, swelling, and trismus in patients who underwent wisdom tooth extractions, the authors wrote.

"The study confirmed the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in reducing adverse effects post-extraction of lower third molars,” wrote the authors, led by Gisela Cristina Vianna Camolesi of the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela in Spain (J Evid Based Dent Pract, December 7, 2024).

Infrared laser PBM shows promise as a complementary therapy by promoting cellular repair, reducing inflammation, and easing pain. The purpose of the study was to evaluate its effectiveness in minimizing pain, swelling, and trismus after lower third molar extraction, they wrote.

The randomized, split-mouth, double-center, double-blind clinical study compared active PBM with simulated PBM following the extraction of both lower third molars in the same patients between February 2022 and November 2023. The study included 83 participants whose average age was 47.

PBM effectiveness was evaluated by measuring pain using the visual analog scale, edema, and trismus (measured in millimeters). Statistical analyses were performed for secondary outcomes.

A significant decrease in pain was noted at all evaluation times (p < 0.01). Reductions in facial swelling and trismus were seen on postoperative days two and seven (p < 0.01), the authors wrote.

Additionally, a considerable difference in analgesic use was recorded on all postoperative days except for the seventh, they wrote.

However, the study had limitations. Patients may have based their pain ratings for the second surgery on their experience from the first, the authors wrote.

"It is recommended that PBM be more widely adopted as an effective complementary therapy for postoperative management in these patients," Camolesi and colleagues wrote.