Histometric evaluation of the healing of the dental alveolus in rats after irradiation with a low-powered GaA1As laser

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to evaluate histometrically the effect of the irradiation with semiconductor diode GaAlAs 790 nm low-powered laser in the chronology of alveolar repair of rats. Lasers of low intensity possesses an eminently analgesic, anti-inflammatory and bioestimulant effect, producing an increase of the local micro-circulation and in the speed of healing. Groups of five animals had their upper right incisors extracted under anesthesia and the mucous sutured; three groups received 1.5 J/cm<SUP>2</SUP> of irradiation immediately after the extraction with laser for sweeping on the operated area. After that, the animals were sacrificed in the periods of 7, 14 and 21 days after the dental extraction. The material was decalcified and processed for inclusion in paraffin. Longitudinal sections of 7 micrometers in the alveolus were made and stained with HE. The histometric analysis was performed with the Merz grid, and 2000 points were counted in each cervical, middle and apical thirds of the alveolus, assessing the percentage of the bone tissue. The result shows that low-powered intensity laser produced acceleration in osseous formation (10%) in some periods.