The Photobiomodulation effect of 980 nm Diode Laser on Patients with Xerostomia

Xerostomia is not a disease in itself. This condition is associated with systemic diseases, medication use, and radiotherapy. Oral and general health suffer when the salivary gland´s function is reduced. The effectiveness of therapeutic methods in resolving this issue thus far has been inadequate. This study aimed to determine the photobiomodulation (PBM) effect of a 980 nm laser on xerostomia.

A quasi-experimental study was carried out using a 980 nm diode laser on 28 patients with xerostomia. A diode laser (980 nm) was used extortionally over the submandibular glands and parotids and it was used internally in the sublingual glands. The laser beam (extrorally 6 J, 300mW, 20 s, and introrally 4 J, 200mW, 20 s) was applied bilaterally every other day for 10 sessions. It should be noted that 8 points of the parotid, 2 points of the submandibular glands, and 2 points of the sublingual glands were irradiated. The saliva was collected each session using the Navazesh technique, 5 min before and after PBM. The Wilcoxon test was used to study the effect of laser therapy on saliva flow rate (volume and weight). The P < 0.05 level was considered a significant level.

The volume (P < 0.0001) and the weight (P < 0.0001) of the saliva were increased by using a 980 nm diode laser. While, in smokers and diabetic patients with hypertension, no significant difference was observed in either saliva volume (P = 0.593, P = 0.092) or weight (P = 0.785, P = 0.089).

In this study, the volume and weight of the unstimulated saliva in most patients with xerostomia increased with using PBM.