Comparative evaluation of Low Level Laser Therapy and cryotherapy in pain control and wound healing following orthodontic tooth extraction: A double blind study

Abstract

Purpose: To compare and evaluate pain and healing following orthodontic tooth extraction using Low Level Laser Therapy [LLLT] and Cryotherapy.

Materials and methods: 62 patients referred for orthodontic extraction of bilateral bicuspids were included. Subjects were alternatively divided into two groups with 31 patients each. One of the bilateral extraction sites was subjected to either intervention, LLLT or Cryotherapy, while the other site was kept as control. Pain was assessed for 7 consecutive days by Visual Analogue Scale and Wound healing on 4^th, 7^th and 14^th days using a modified wound healing scale.

Results: Pain scores were generally better for Group I [LLLT] when compared to Group II [Cryotherapy] on all days. The highest mean score for pain observed on the 1^st post-extraction day was 4.00 ± 0.93 and 4.16 ± 0.93 for Group I and Group II respectively [p = 0.42]. It was also observed that LLLT helped in better wound healing as compared to cryotherapy with a significant difference in wound healing on 7^th [mean score for Group I and Group II- 1.16 ± 0.52 and 1.6 ± 0.62 respectively: p = 0.01] and 14^th [mean score Group I and Group II- 0.23 ± 0.43 and 1.0 ± 0.58 respectively: p = 0.00] post-extraction days.

Conclusion: LLLT has better analgesic and wound healing properties as compared to Cryotherapy, suggesting that LLLT should be preferred over cryotherapy whenever possible.

Keywords: Cryotherapy; Low level laser therapy; Modified wound healing score.