Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy on pain intensity after lower third molar extraction

Purpose This double-blind crossover study compared analgesic efficacy of pre-and postoperative administration of low-level laser therapy (LLLT), using a postsurgical dental pain model. Materials and Methods Patients requiring surgical extraction of lower third molar in 2 separate stages under local anesthesia were recruited. During first stage all subjects received LLLT 15 minutes before the extraction and had Placebo Laser (laser probe application with the laser switched off) treatment immediately after completion of the suture. The second stage was carried out after 2 months of washout, patients were crossed over to receive the opposite treatment on the contralateral third molar; thus eac…