Effects of low power Er:YAG laser on the tooth pulp-evoked jaw-opening reflex

Jorge L Zeredo; Katia M Sasaki; Rie Fujiyama; Yukio Okada; Kazuo Toda

doi:10.1002/lsm.10217

Effects of low power Er:YAG laser on the tooth pulp-evoked jaw-opening reflex

Lasers Surg Med. 2003;33(3):169-72. doi: 10.1002/lsm.10217.

Authors

Jorge L Zeredo¹, Katia M Sasaki, Rie Fujiyama, Yukio Okada, Kazuo Toda

Affiliation

¹ Division of Integrative Sensory Physiology, Department of Developmental and Reconstructive Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan. jorge@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp

PMID: 12949946
DOI: 10.1002/lsm.10217

Abstract

Background and objectives: Analgesic properties of laser irradiation have been of great interest in the field of dentistry. This study aimed at evaluating the analgesic effects of the Er:YAG laser system in rats during and after laser irradiation.

Study design/materials and methods: A pulsed Er:YAG laser was applied to the oral mucosa of the mandibular incisor at an energy density of approximately 0.1 J/cm(2)/pulse for 10 minutes at 10 Hz, and the integrated digastric muscle electromyogram in tooth pulp-evoked jaw-opening reflex was used as an index of the nociceptive response.

Results: Significant reflex suppression was observed 10 minutes after laser irradiation. The reflex amplitude started to return to its original level about 45 minutes after cessation of laser irradiation.

Conclusions: The Er:YAG laser used at low output levels presented inhibitory effects on the tooth pulp-evoked jaw-opening reflex, suggesting that this laser system may be of use for pain control during various dental treatments.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Analgesia / methods*
Animals
Dental Pulp / radiation effects*
Jaw / physiology*
Low-Level Light Therapy*
Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Reaction Time / radiation effects
Reflex / physiology*
Reflex / radiation effects*