Pain relief after scaling and rootplaning by monochromatic phototherapy (Biolight)

The present clinical trial was designed to evaluate pain relief after scaling and rootplaning treatment, of patients with periodontal disease, by the use of monochromatic phototherapy (Mpht) (Biolight) vs. placebo. 20 randomly selected patients, 35-75 years of age, with at least ten tooth pockets, with probing depths > or = 5mm, equally shared between at least two opposite quadrants were chosen. Patients using anti-inflammatory drugs or painkillers were excluded. Scaling and rootplaning under local anaesthesia was performed by a dental hygienist, on randomly selected quadrants in all patients. Additional treatment with placebo or monochromatic phototherapy was given to the patients. The patients registered pain on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (100 mm) on two occasions, the first after the effect of the local anaesthetic had worn off and the second 24 hours post-treatment. The results showed that, no pain relief could be obtained after monochromatic phototherapy compared to placebo.