Effect of Photobiomodulation on the Incidence of Alveolar Osteitis and Postoperative Pain following Mandibular Third Molar Surgery: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

The current study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy for the prevention of incidence of alveolar osteitis (AO) and postoperative pain following third molar surgery. In this double-blind clinical trial, the impacted teeth of patients having bilateral impacted mandibular third molars were surgically extracted; for each participant, one socket was randomly assigned to receive photobiomodulation treatment, the other received sham treatment. 660 nm 200 mW CW was applied at a distance of ~1cm to 4 points on the occlusal area of extraction socket (beam area at the tissue ~0.64 cm2 , 312.5 mW cm-2 , 1J, 1.6 J cm-2 ). Also, 810 nm 200 mW CW was applied at tissue surface at three points on the buccal and three points on the lingual gingiva, for 15 s (400 mW cm-2 , 3 J, 6 J cm-2 ). There was a statistically meaningful difference in AO frequency between the two groups, and the photobiomodulation group showed lower AO frequency compared with the sham PBM treatment (P-value = 0.035). According to the findings of this study, photobiomodulation therapy reduced the incidence of AO following surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. The incidence of AO typically occurs 3-7 days post-extraction, and our results suggest that PBM treatment within the 7 days could help reduce the risk of AO development.

Photobiomodulation in Endodontic, Restorative, and Prosthetic Dentistry: A Review of the Literature.

Objective: To provide a review of the literature about the photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) dental treatment protocols in endodontic, restorative, and prosthetic dentistry based on validated clinical studies published so far. More specifically, this study was carried out to carefully review therapeutic protocol of PBMT in clinical studies and their conclusions. Background data: The importance of using low-power lasers and photobiomodulation (PBM) is increasing in dentistry mainly due to their painless and noninvasive function. However, lack of sufficient clinical studies has led to unclear results regarding PBMT in dentistry, and also lack of an available precise protocol for clinicians. Moreover, scarcity of clinical studies in this area has made conduction of a precise systematic review study difficult. Methods: In our study, published clinical studies up to April 2019 were reviewed from library sources, Google Scholar, PubMed and Medline, Elsevier, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of science (ISI). Inclusion criteria included those presented in clinical trials and case report/case series, language (English), and studies available in full text. Exclusion criterion was in vitro studies. Results: In general, findings of clinical studies have shown that PBMT can have a significant role in reducing postoperative dental pain, increasing depth of anesthesia, improving tooth hypersensitivity, reducing inflammation of the tissue, and helping wound healing. Conclusions: A review of clinical studies showed that the use of alternative or adjunctive PBMT is of great importance in controlling postoperative pain after endodontic treatments. In addition, evidence suggests that different parameters of light can be efficient in the treatment of tooth hypersensitivity. Nevertheless, lack of sufficient clinical studies and reliable results do not allow introducing a precise treatment protocol.

Photobiomodulation in Oral Medicine.

Objective: To provide a review of the literature about the photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) dental treatment protocols in oral medicine based on validated clinical studies that have been published so far. Background data: The lack of effective therapies for the treatment of various types of oral diseases or the presence of invasive therapeutic methods along with the use of a wide range of medications has had a significant impact on the quality of life of these patients. PBMT as a noninvasive and nondrug method can play an influential role in the treatment of oral diseases. Methods: In this study, published clinical studies up to April 2019 were reviewed from library sources, Google Scholar, PubMed and Medline, Elsevier, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of science (ISI). Results: In general, the findings of this study showed that PBMT has had a positive effect on the treatment of oral lichen planus, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, hyposalivation, pemphigus vulgaris, recurrent herpes simplex, burning mouth syndrome, bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, trigeminal neuralgia, facial nerve paralysis, geographic tongue, and chronic sinusitis. Conclusions: PBMT can be effective (as an alternative treatment or in combination with other therapies) in improving symptoms or in the complete treatment of oral diseases. However, further clinical studies are still necessary to achieve more robust results.

Effect of Oral Bromelain on Wound Healing, Pain, and Bleeding at Donor Site Following Free Gingival Grafting: A Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Considering the optimal efficacy of bromelain for pain relief and wound healing, this study aimed to assess the effect of bromelain on wound healing, pain, and bleeding at the donor site following free gingival grafting (FGG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized, controlled double-blind clinical trial was performed on 26 patients with gingival recession. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of bromelain and placebo (n=13). Treatment was started on the day of surgery and was continued for 10 days. Pain, bleeding, and epithelialization at the donor site were the variables evaluated in this study using a questionnaire. The level of pain was determined using a visual analog scale (VAS) considering the number of analgesic tablets taken within 7 days postoperatively. Bleeding was determined according to the patient's report, and epithelization was assessed by applying 3% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to the donor site. The donor site epithelialization was assessed at 7 and 10 days after surgery. RESULTS: Bromelain caused a significant reduction in pain at the donor site (2.605±0.509) compared to the placebo (4.885±0.519; P<0.05). The number of donor sites with complete epithelialization was higher in the bromelain group compared to the placebo, but this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The two groups were the same regarding postoperative bleeding (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that oral bromelain (500 mg/day) can be effective in the reduction of pain at the donor site after FGG and may also enhance wound healing. Oral bromelain does not increase the risk of postoperative bleeding.

Short-term perioperative teriparatide therapy for the prevention of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: A randomized, controlled preclinical study in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Dentoalveolar procedures in patients receiving bisphosphonates and other antiresorptive agents are associated with an increased risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of perioperative teriparatide (TPD) therapy in prevention of MRONJ. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two protocols of TPD therapy were studied. For protocol A, 25 TPD-treated (AT) and 25 control (AC) rats received 5 weekly injection of 0.06 mg/kg zoledronate. At the end of week 5, extraction of bilateral mandibular first molars was performed for all rats, and 4-week TPD (20 µg/kg/day) and saline therapy was started for AT and AC rats, respectively. For protocol B, 25 TPD-treated (BT) and 25 control (BC) rats received 5 weekly injection of 0.06 mg/kg zoledronate. One week later, 4-week TPD and saline therapy was started for BT and BC rats, respectively. Both groups underwent tooth extraction at the end of week 7 of the experiment. All rats were sacrificed 8 weeks after tooth extraction and assessed clinically for bone exposure/fistula, and histologically for density of osteocytes in newly formed bone and empty osteocyte lacunae in alveolar bone. RESULTS: Incidence of bone exposure/fistula and mean numbers of osteocytes and empty lacunae per 25 mm2 (at 400× magnification) were 20%, 15.36, and 2.63 in AT group; 78%, 5.78, and 6.81 in AC group; 14%, 16.94, and 2.08 in BT group; and 78%, 7.54, and 5.95 in BC group; respectively. The differences between AT and AC and between BT and BC were statistically significant (P < 0.001). However, no statistically significant difference between AT and BT and between AC and BC was found. CONCLUSION: Four weeks of TPD therapy, beginning at the same day or 2 weeks before tooth extraction, had a potential role in prevention of ONJ.