Improved wound healing by low-level laser irradiation after gingivectomy operations: a controlled clinical pilot study.

AIM: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may induce morphological, molecular and cellular processes, which are involved in wound healing. The aim of this split-mouth controlled clinical trial was to assess the effects of LLLT on healing of gingiva after gingivectomy and gingivoplasty. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with inflammatory gingival hyperplasias on their symmetrical teeth were included in this study. After gingivectomy and gingivoplasty, a diode laser (588 nm) was randomly applied to one side of the operation area for 7 days. The surgical areas were disclosed by a solution (Mira-2-tones) to visualize the areas in which the epithelium is absent. Comparison of the surface areas on the LLLT-applied sites and controls were made with an image-analysing software. RESULTS: Despite the prolonged time needed for application, patients have tolerated LLLT well. While there were no statistically significant differences between the stained surface areas of the LLLT applied and the control sites immediately after the surgery, LLLT-applied sites had significantly lower stained areas compared with the controls on the post-operative third, seventh and 15th day (p<0.001 for each). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, the results indicated that LLLT may enhance epithelization and improve wound healing after gingivectomy and gingivoplasty operations.

Enamel matrix derivative and low-level laser therapy in the treatment of intra-bony defects: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate post-operative pain, wound healing and clinical results after the application of an enamel matrix protein derivative (EMD) alone or combined with a low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for the treatment of deep intra-bony defects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was an intra-individual longitudinal test of 12 months' duration conducted using a blinded, split-mouth, placebo-controlled and randomized design. In 22 periodontitis patients, one intra-bony defect was randomly treated with EMD+LLLT, while EMD alone was applied to the contra-lateral defect site. LLLT was used both intra- and post-operatively. Clinical measurements were performed by a blinded periodontist at the time of surgery, in the first week and in the first, second, sixth and 12th month. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were recorded for pain assessment. RESULTS: The results have shown that the treatment of intra-bony defects with EMD alone or EMD+LLLT leads to probing depth reduction and attachment-level gain. In addition, EMD+LLLT had resulted in less gingival recession (p<0.05), less swelling (p<0.001) and less VAS scores (p<0.02) compared with EMD alone. CONCLUSION: This study shows that EMD is an effective, safe and predictable biomaterial for periodontal regeneration and LLLT may improve the effects of EMD by reducing post-operative complications.