Efficacy of photo bio-modulation therapy for pain relief and soft tissue wound healing after dental implant surgery: A double-blind randomized clinical trial

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of photo bio-modulation therapy (PBMT) on pain relief and wound healing after dental implant surgery. Background data: Photo bio-modulation (PBM) has been used as a therapeutic method for the healing of wounds and controlling pain and inflammation. Materials and methods: In this clinical trial, 21 patients including 12 men and 9 women were selected based on inclusion criteria. Forty-two implants were placed in the posterior regions of both sides of the mandible. Immediately after the surgery, 660 nm and 810 nm diode laser beams with an energy density of 6 J/cm2 were concurrently irradiated on three sides of the implant regions, buccal, occlusal, and lingual sides. After 48 h both two lasers were applied to patients without irradiation, as placebo devices in the control side. The severity of patients’ pain was examined after 12, 24, 48, and 72 h based on a visual analog scale (VAS). Wound healing score was also determined at 3, 7, and 14 days postoperatively using the Likert scale from 0 to 4. The data were analyzed with SPSS. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: The laser side exhibited a significant improvement in wound healing and pain relief at all the intervals compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Wilcoxon test showed that the wound healing score on the laser side at 3 (p < 0.001), 7 (p < 0.001), and 14 (p = 0.03) days was significantly better than that on the placebo side. Paired t-test showed that at all the intervals of 12 h (p < 0.008), 24 h (p < 0.04), 48 h (p < 0.008), and 72 h (p < 0.02), the mean pain score on the laser side was significantly lower than that on the placebo side. Conclusion: Given the limitations of this study, the results showed that PBM enhanced wound healing and decreased pain after dental implant surgery