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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 May 1;26(3):e341-e348.
doi: 10.4317/medoral.24228.

Photobiomodulation therapy reduces postoperative pain after third molar extractions: A randomized clinical trial

Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Photobiomodulation therapy reduces postoperative pain after third molar extractions: A randomized clinical trial

C Isolan et al. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. .

Abstract

Background: To assess the efficacy of PBMT on reducing postoperative pain scores in patients submitted to third molar extractions.

Material and methods: A randomized controlled trial (ReBEC:RBR-94BCKZ) was designed according to the SPIRIT and followed the CONSORT. Patients were randomly allocated according to control or PBMT groups. PBMT consisted of the application of GaAlAs laser (808nm;50mW) applied in six points (1.23 min;11 J/cm2) after extraction. Pain scores were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in millimeters evaluated after 6 (T6), 24 (T24), and 48 (T48) hours. The Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test was used to check for possible associations between VAS scores and treatment groups.

Results: A total of 101 third molar extractions were performed in 44 patients. The mean age was 28 years old(SD±11.54). Comparing control and intervention, PBMT group showed a significant effect on the reduction of postoperative pain at T6(mean VAS=0.9; C.I:0.63-1.16) compared to control (mean VAS=2.5;C.I:2.1-2.88)(p<0.001). The same statistically significant effect on the reduction of postoperative pain was observed at T24 (PBMT mean VAS=0.72;C.I:0.51-0.93; control mean VAS=2.86;C.I:2.40-3.31;p<0.001) and T48 (PBMT mean VAS=0.64;C.I:0.36-0.92; control mean VAS=2.86;C.I:2.37-3.34;p<0.001).

Conclusions: PBMT significantly reduce the postoperative pain scores when assessed 6, 24, and 48 hours after third molar extractions.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest No financial, legal or political competing interests with third parties (government, commercial, private foundation, etc.) were disclosed for any aspect of the submitted work (including but not limited to grants, data monitoring board, study design, manuscript preparation, statistical analysis, etc.).

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT flow diagram.

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