the effects of low level 660nm laser irradiation on pain and teeth hypersensitivity after periodontal surgery

introduction: tooth pain and sensitization are the two main causes of discomfort after periodontal flap surgery. effects of low level laser therapy for reducing pain have already been established; these kinds of lasers have been used for tooth desensitization as well. this controlled blind study sought to compare tooth pain and sensitization after 660nm laser irradiation in a split mouth and also in a control group after periodontal flap surgery. methods: forty patients were enrolled in this study. in these entire patients periodontal flap surgery was done in the upper anterior segment. in the test group, by tossing of a coin the left or right side was determined for laser irradiation, so central incisor, lateral incisor and canine were irradiated by swiping motion of 660nm laser (azor, russia) 25mw, 4.5 j, and 3 min every other day starting one day after surgery; and in collateral segment a placebo probe was put to blind the patients. in the control group, dressing was used after surgery. one, 3, 5 and 7 days after surgery for both groups visual analog score (vas) for tooth pain and sensitization were recorded for both sides in each patient. results: in the laser group, both sides had lower vas for pain than the control group (p< 0.05) after the first day. there was no statistical difference in the laser group between laser irradiated, or non-irradiated segment and for sensitization between groups. conclusion: pain can be reduced after periodontal surgery by using low level 660nm laser therapy. lower pain in both sides in the laser group may be the result of the spread of mediators and neurotransmitters secreted after laser irradiation, or may be because of scattered radiation in the collateral part.