Adjunctive 980-nm Diode Laser Therapy in the Management of Acute Pericoronitis: A Prospective Randomized Controlled...

This randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated the efficacy of 980 nm diode laser therapy as an adjunct to conventional treatment for acute pericoronitis.

Ninety-two patients with acute pericoronitis were divided into a control group (n = 44) receiving standard treatment and a laser group (n = 48) receiving additional 980 nm diode laser therapy (7.07W/cm², pulsed wave mode, 30 s/site, once daily for 3 days). Outcomes including Modified Gingival Index (MGI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, maximum mouth opening (MMO), lymphadenopathy, and body temperature were assessed at baseline and day 4 post-treatment.

The laser group exhibited significantly greater reductions in VAS pain scores (5.62 ± 1.71 to 0.92 ± 0.81 vs. 5.59 ± 1.57 to 1.73 ± 2.4; p < 0.05) and MGI scores (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Both groups showed comparable improvements in MMO (p > 0.05). Lymphadenopathy resolved in 58% of laser patients vs. 64% of controls, though not statistically significant(p > 0.05). All patients achieved normalized body temperature by day 4. Stratified reanalysis by type of impacted tooth revealed that the laser-treated mesially impacted group experienced significant improvements in postoperative pain (VAS; p < 0.001) and gingival inflammation (MGI; p = 0.005) in laser-treated Mesial impactions compared to the control group.

Adjunctive 980 nm diode laser therapy significantly enhances pain relief and reduces gingival inflammation in acute pericoronitis compared to conventional treatment alone, supporting its role as a non-invasive therapeutic adjunct.