Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the Effect of Low-Level Laser therapy after dental extraction on post-operative complications in controlled diabetic patients.

Material and Method: Prospective study was conducted in Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, KSA. Thirty controlled diabetic patients with non-restorable teeth indicated for extraction were included in the study. The exclusion criteria; uncontrolled systemic disease, poor oral hygiene, smoker patient, blood disorders, any contraindications for laser therapy and patients whom taking analgesics in the past 24 hours before surgery.

Methods of assessments: Size of the alveolus was measured after extraction bucco-lingually and mesiodistally in millimeters immediately after laser application in study side, and for the controlled side we measured it after extraction only using periodontal prob. The pain was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS). The scores extended between 0 (no pain) and 10 (the greatest pain). The pain was evaluated 8 hours after extraction and on the 7th day. The swelling and redness were evaluated both the study and controlled sides by palpation and inspection respectively on 7th day. The data was collected, tabulated and analyzed statistically using Statistical Package of social sciences software (SPSS).

A total of 30 patients participated in this study (M=47.20y). Table 1 shows the descriptive data for the participants. For swelling and redness, there was no significant difference between the two groups after the 7th postoperatively (p > 0.05; Table 2).

Table 1: Descriptive Statistics.

Table 2:Comparison of Swelling and Redness between Laser Treated and Control.

Extraction site treated with LLLt showed decrease in the B-L width of the alveolus on the 7th day after extraction; however, it was a statistically non-significant (p > 0.05; Table 3). And for the M-D width of the alveolus there was no significant difference between the 1st day and the 7th day (p > 0.05; Table 3). There was no significant difference in pain intensity in both sides after 8 hours from the extraction (p>0.05; Table 3). However, pain intensity in study side on the 7th day was statistically non-significant (p>0.05; Table 3).

Table 3:Comparison of effect of low-level laser therapy on healing after dental extraction between two groups.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the LLLT showed no significant differences in the mean of controlling the post-operative complications after extraction between the study and controlled sides. So, using LLLt has no clinical significance after extraction among the controlled diabetic patient.

Keywords: Low level laser therapy; Dental extraction; Diabetic patients; Wound healing; Pain