Morphological analysis of second-intention wound healing in rats submitted to 16 J/cm 2 λ 660-nm laser irradiation.

Background and Objectives : Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been extensively applied to improve wound healing due to some biostimulatory properties presented by laser arrays apparently able to accelerate the cicatricial repair of soft tissue injuries. However, many controversial results have been reported in the literature, probably as a result of the wide sort of different protocols of photobiomodulation employed in those experiments. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of a low-dose protocol of LLT on the intensity of the inflammatory response and the pattern of collagen fibers' deposition during second-intention wound healing in rodents. Materials and Methods : Standard-sized wounds were carried out in the back of 24 male rats. Half of them underwent LLLT treatment (16 J/cm 2 ) at 660 nm delivered for 7 days. Eight and 14 days after the wounds were performed, the repairing area was removed and stained in HE and Masson's trichrome, and the inflammatory response, epithelization, and collagen fiber depositions were evaluated. Results : We found that LLLT was able to slightly reduce the intensity of the inflammatory reaction as well as to enhance substantially the epithelization process at both 8 th and 14 th days. In addition, it also appeared to stimulate the deposition of collagen fibers at the final stages of wound healing. Conclusions : The LLLT protocol tested in this study resulted in some improvements in second-intention wound healing in rodents.

Effect of low-level laser therapy and mineral trioxide aggregate on alveolar bone repair

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) associated to mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) on the alveolar bone repair process. Methods: Forty Wistar rats had the upper right incisor extracted and were assigned to 4 groups according to the treatment of the alveolar wound: G1 - no treatment (control group); G2 - sockets were filled with MTA; G2 - sockets were treated with LLLT(l780 nm, 40 mW, 16 J/cm2); and G4 – sockets were treated with LLLT and filled with MTA. The animals were sacrificed 14 days after the surgical procedures. The maxillas were removed, fixed in formalin, decalcified in 0.5% nitric acid and processed histologically. Results: In G1, there was bone formation on the bottom of the socket, but it was not noticeable on the superficial areas, as well as the presence of an intense granulation tissue. In G2, the bone trabeculae were irregular and thin, and were associated with intense vascular hyperemia and chronic inflammation. In G3, there was substantial formation of thick interwoven osteocyte-rich trabecular bone, with an evident osteoblastic rimming. In G4, it was observed an intense deposition of thin irregular bone trabeculae, but vascular hyperemia was quite distinguishable. Conclusion: LLLT was the most successful treatment to improve alveolar bone repair.