Effects of low-level laser therapy on soft and hard tissue healing after endodontic surgery

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to examine possible clinical benefits of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on soft and hard tissue healing after endodontic surgery. METHODS: Seventy-eight endo-surgery cases on maxillary incisors were included to the study. The patients were assigned randomly into a control group and a laser group. In the laser group, diode laser irradiation was performed immediately after surgery and daily for post-operative 7 days. In the control group, patients were not subjected laser therapy. The patients were compared in terms of pain (Visual analogue scale, VAS), edema, ecchymose, total number of analgesic tablets used, soft tissue healing, periapical index, defect area, defect volume, bone density, and life quality indexes [Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) and General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI)]. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients completed the study (n=37 for control group, n=34 for laser group). The laser group showed statistically better results in edema, wound healing, and total number of analgesic tablets used on the 1st, 3rd and 7th post-operative days compared to the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in ecchymose between the two groups on the post-op 1st day; however, there was a statistically significant reduction in ecchymoses in the laser group on the post-op 3rd and 7th days. The VAS scores showed that patients had significantly lower pain on the 1st and 3rd post-op days in laser group compared with the control group. The laser group showed significantly better results in OHIP-14 and GOHA indexes on post-op day 1 and 3 compared to the control group; however, the results were comparable between the two groups on the post-op day 7. The laser group showed significantly favorable results in terms of bone density, defect volume and area, and periapical index compared to the control group in the post-op 3rd month. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that LLLT improved soft and hard tissue healing after endodontic surgery and also showed favorable effects on pain and life quality of patients especially in the early phase of healing period.