College for
Photomedicine
Photomedicine
A new review paper published by Manav Rachna Dental College in October 2024 reviews study results on the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in healing wounds. Below you will find the summary.
The Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy on the Healing of Oral Wounds: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Wound healing is
an intricate process involving biological alterations in cellular integrity.
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) includes special features that speed up tissue
regeneration and wound healing. The objective of this review is to examine the
outcomes of photobiomodulation therapy in terms of healing. A search strategy
was prepared using MeSH terms and Boolean operators. The initial search was
limited to randomized controlled trials in the English language from January
2014 until January 2024. An electronic search of the National Library of
Medicine (NLM catalog), Google Scholar, and Scopus was conducted using
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
The studies used LLLT of various wavelengths and parameters on oral wound
healing. A total of 54 records were identified through database searching. In
total, 14 studies were included according to the inclusion criteria. Ten
studies examined the effects of LLLT in post-surgical hard and soft tissue
healing in humans. Four animal studies observed the efficacy of
photobiomodulation on the healing of bone tissue. All investigations found a
substantial contrast between control and laser groups concerning wound
epithelialization. When used as an adjunct or a substitute, LLLT has advantages
in terms of pain and inflammation by boosting acetylcholine esterase synaptic
activity, beta-endorphin synthesis, and serotonin production. By promoting the
growth of osteoblasts and fibroblasts, LLLT can enhance the production of new
bone at an early stage. Hence, further studies and meta-analyses are required
for a better understanding of the mechanism and to confirm the efficacy with
different parameters.