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Does laser therapy improve the wound healing process after tooth extraction? A systematic review
Author(s) -
Lemes Carmen Helena Jacques,
Rosa Wellington Luiz de Oliveira,
Sonego Camila Leal,
Lemes Bianca Jacques,
Moraes Rafael Ratto,
Silva Adriana Fernandes
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1111/wrr.12678
Subject(s) - medicine , wound healing , low level laser therapy , laser therapy , clinical trial , cochrane library , dentistry , randomized controlled trial , medline , laser , surgery , physics , political science , law , optics
Laser therapy could amplify the oral wound healing process by stimulating cell regeneration after injury, attenuating pain, and modulating the immune system. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate whether the application of laser therapy improved alveolar healing after tooth extractions. Eight electronic databases were screened: MedLine (PubMed), The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, Lilacs, Ibecs, Scielo, and BBO. Three reviewers independently assessed the title and abstracts of potentially relevant studies. Only clinical trials and animal experiments that evaluated the wound healing effect of laser therapy after tooth extraction were included. A total of 16 studies fulfilled all criteria, thus 8 animal experiments and 8 clinical trials were included. Different types of laser were evaluated, such as CO 2 , GaAlAs, Nd:YAG, Diode Laser, HeNe, and High‐frequency Pulsed Diode Laser. Although HF, Diode and GaAs lasers were able to enhance wound healing process in clinical studies, four trials and one animal experiment showed no improvement in wound healing with laser therapy after tooth extractions. In general, the current available evidence in the literature showed that laser therapy improved the wound healing process, but these findings were limited to the type of laser applied and its specific settings. Further well‐designed and randomized controlled trials are needed to support a benefit effect of using laser therapy after tooth extraction. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42014007509 (2014).