Effect of photobiomodulation on postoperative endodontic pain: A systematic review of clinical trials

Seyyed Amir Seyyedi; Maryam Baghizadeh Fini; Reza Fekrazad; Selda Abbasian; Amir Ardalan Abdollahi

Effect of photobiomodulation on postoperative endodontic pain: A systematic review of clinical trials

Dent Res J (Isfahan). 2024 Jan 25:21:7. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Seyyed Amir Seyyedi¹, Maryam Baghizadeh Fini², Reza Fekrazad³, Selda Abbasian⁴, Amir Ardalan Abdollahi⁵

Affiliations

¹ Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Disease, Dental School, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
² Master of Health Promotion, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
³ Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Research Schoolar, Faculty of Dentistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
⁵ Department of Endodontics, Dental School, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.

PMID: 38425318
PMCID: PMC10899165

Abstract

Background: This review aims to perform a complete evaluation of the impact of photobiomodulation (PMB) on postoperative endodontic pain.

Materials and methods: The PRISMA checklist was used to perform this systematic review. The electronic databases were searched, including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Embase. Sixty-three papers were obtained through a main electronic search and a hand search. Nine trials met the criteria after screening the titles, abstracts, and/or full texts.

Results: Seven out of nine studies showed that PMB has a significant impact on relieving postoperative endodontic pain, with no statistically significant difference in the severity of pain between the laser and control groups in the two remaining studies. In addition, eight studies showed no adverse effects, indicating that we can remove the adverse effects of drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, one study showed evidence of the consequences of PMB application on teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Therefore, it can be concluded that PMB should not be used in teeth with pain because of irreversible pulpitis.

Conclusion: Although there is some understanding from a cellular viewpoint of the effects of PMB, there is still some uncertainty about whether these cell-level modifications impact reducing the postendodontic pain.

Keywords: Clinical trial; low-level light therapy; pain; review; root canal therapy.

Publication types

Review