Photobiomodulation of acute pain syndrome after complex tooth extraction

The study evaluated various types of low-intensity photobiomodulatory therapy (PBMT) in reducing acute pain after complex tooth extraction. Complex extraction of maxillary molars and premolars (no more than two teeth, on one side) was performed in 119 patients (aged 18-44 years). In Group 1 (n = 28), PBMT was not performed. In Group 2 (n = 32), pulsed infrared laser radiation in combination with a magnetic mirror tip was used. In Group 3 (n = 30), dental tips with a pulsed infrared laser emitting head were used in the area of the socket formed after tooth extraction. In Group 4 (n = 29), a laser head with a continuous red spectrum was used. The exposure time of the tips and heads in all groups was 3 minutes in the projection of the extracted tooth. All patients underwent PBMT at 1, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. At these same times, acute pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) and a numerical rating scale (NRS) in millimeters. Acute pain was lowest already on the first postoperative day in the pulsed infrared laser group with a mirror magnetic head. Among the PBMT groups, the continuous red laser demonstrated the worst pain results. In the group without PBMT, pain requiring medical management persisted for up to 48-72 hours after tooth extraction.