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Home-use Photobiomodulation for Pain Management and Recovery after Lower Third Molar Extraction: A Pilot Split-Mouth
Walid Altayeb1, Tosun Tosun2, Islam Kassem3
1Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Roma, Italy.
Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences
|March 6, 2026
Summary
Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy significantly reduced pain, swelling, and trismus after lower third molar extraction. Home-use PBM devices offer a non-invasive, accessible alternative for faster postoperative recovery and reduced medication dependence.
Area of Science:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
- Photomedicine
Background:
- Lower third molar extraction commonly causes significant postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus.
- Conventional pharmacological treatments for these symptoms carry risks of systemic side effects.
- Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy presents a non-invasive approach with demonstrated anti-inflammatory and healing capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of home-use Photobiomodulation (PBM) devices in managing postoperative recovery after lower third molar extraction.
- To assess the impact of PBM on pain, swelling, trismus, and analgesic consumption.
- To determine the accessibility and patient adherence benefits of home-use PBM devices.
Main Methods:
- A split-mouth pilot study involving 12 participants aged 18-45 undergoing bilateral lower third molar extractions.
- Daily application of a multi-wavelength (940 nm, 850 nm, 660 nm, 630 nm) low-level light device for PBM therapy on one side, with the contralateral side serving as a placebo, over seven days.
- Daily assessment of pain (VAS scale), swelling, trismus, and analgesic use, with statistical analysis using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.
Main Results:
- The PBM-treated side demonstrated statistically significant reductions in pain (Day 3, P=0.001), swelling (Day 7, P=0.001), and trismus (Day 4, P=0.037).
- Improvements in all measured recovery metrics were sustained through Day 7 in the PBM group.
- Significantly lower analgesic consumption was observed in the PBM group (Day 4, P=0.001), indicating effective pain management.
Conclusions:
- Home-use PBM therapy is an effective modality for managing postoperative complications following lower third molar extraction.
- PBM therapy accelerates recovery, reduces the need for analgesics, and enhances patient adherence due to its non-invasive and accessible nature.
- Further research is warranted to validate these findings and optimize PBM treatment protocols for enhanced clinical outcomes.
