Is the photobiomodulation therapy effective in controlling post-surgical side effects after the extraction of mandibular third molars? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives The extraction of third molars is one of the most performed surgical procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Pain, oedema, and trismus are the most frequently complications related in the surgical postoperative period. The literature has indicated PBM as a potential adjuvant method to reduce these complications. The aim of this review and meta-analysis is evaluate the PBM, as an optimal method to improve patient experience and minimize postoperative morbidity. Additionally, we seek to determine which wavelength, site, and frequency of application are most effective.

Methods This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023429966) and followed PRISMA guidelines. The search was carried out in the main databases, PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and Lilacs, including reviews in the most important journals in the area of oral surgery and laser applied to oral surgery. In addition, all article references and also gray literature were reviewed. After the studies selection, the relevant data was collected. All the studies were randomized controlled trials and the patients were allocated into two groups: active PBM and inactive PBM. The statistical analysis was carried out using Stata v.16, and the methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed by the Jadad scale and RoB 2.0, respectively.

Results Where included 22 studies and 989 subjects, to all with a minimum follow-up of 7 days. Pain and oedema showed statistically significant results in favor to the active PBM group. Especially when laser applied in infrared mode, for pain and oedema at 48 h, MD = -1.80 (CI95% -2.88, -0.72) I² = 92.13% and MD = -1.45 (CI95% -2.42, -0.48) I² = 65.01%, respectively. The same is not true for trismus at 48 h, MD = 0.07 (CI95% -0.06, 0.21) I² = 3.26%. The meta-analysis also presented results in respect of laser site of application and number of PBM sessions.

Conclusions PBM with infrared laser, in a combination intraoral and extraoral application, in one session in the immediate postoperative period, has been shown to be effective to achieve the objectives of reducing pain and oedema after third molar extraction.