THE EFFECTS OF LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY ON HEALING OF GINGIVA AFTER GINGIVECTOMY
AN IN VIVO STUDY
Abstract
Aim: Healing involves interplay of cellular elements, cytokines and growth factors. It is a complex phenomenon which has been extensively researched. Low-level laser therapy has been used as an adjunct to hasten healing in numerous clinical studies. It entails the application of low-level laser energy to increase the rate of epithelization, cell proliferation and migration. The present study aims at assessing the in-vivo healing after application of low-level laser therapy.
Materials and Methods: The present study is a randomized controlled clinical trial with a split-mouth study design in which a total of 15 subjects with bilateral gingival enlargement were selected. The selected sites (30 sites) were then randomly divided into two groups namely- the test group and the control group. The test group (15 sites) were irradiated with 940nm laser following gingivectomy on day 0, day3, day7, and day14 whereas the control group (15 sites) received placebo. The healing was assessed by applying Mira-2 tone dye on day 0, day3, day7, day14, day21 and day 30 and the dye uptake was observed by 3 observers.
Results: The laser irradiated site healed earlier than the contralateral side, indicating that laser application accelerates healing in gingivectomy wounds. The sites treated with LLLT showed statistically significant results in terms of pain perception and staining of the tissues post-surgery.
Conclusion: Within the limits of this study and based on the clinical parameters assessed, it can be concluded that low-level lasers can be successfully used as an adjunct to enhance the healing post gingivectomy.
