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Photobiomodulation therapy with 810-nm laser as an alternative to injection for anesthesia in dentistry

Abstract:

Purpose: Considering the need of the patients to receive dental services with less pain and more comfort, as well as the need for low-risk and non-pharmacological treatments, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency and acceptance of anesthesia induced by photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) using an 810-nm wavelength laser in comparison to conventional injection of local anesthesia for restorative dentistry procedures. Methods: Each patient (45 participants) received two treatments: one by PBMT-induced anesthesia and one by injection of local anesthesia. PBMT-induced anesthesia was applied with an 810-nm diode laser. At the end of each treatment, patients scored the anesthesia according to the Wang-Baker FACES pain rating scale. Results: The PBMT-induced anesthesia showed pain score values lower than those of traditional injection of local anesthesia in both jaws and both sides of the same jaw (split mouth) (P < 0.05). PBMT-induced anesthesia was well-accepted by the majority of the patients, which declared the preference for this type of anesthesia for their future restorative procedures. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that PBMT-induced anesthesia with the parameters described may be a good alternative to injection of local anesthesia for many patients in restorative dentistry. In fact, PBMT-induced anesthesia showed to be more effective than the traditional injection of local anesthesia for controlling pain and discomfort during cavity preparation.