A Randomized Double Blind Clinical Study on the Efficacy of Low Level Laser Therapy in Reducing Pain After Simple Third Molar Extraction

Abstract

Material and Methods. Sixty healthy adults undergoing simple third molar extraction under local anesthesia (2% lidocaine with epinephrine 1:80.000) were selected in the study. 30 patients received a soft laser with an 870 nm wave length applied intra-orally from a distance of 1 cm for 10 minutes after extraction procedure. The energy output was 4 J/cm2, with constant power density of 50 mW. Laser treatment was simulated in the other 30 patients. Patients were instructed to evaluate their postoperative pain through out 7 days after extraction using a visual analogue scale (VAS).