Photobiomodulation therapy

The use of low doses of photons (light) in biological tissues to modulate (inhibit or stimulate) responses is termed photobiomodulation (PBM). This nonthermal, noninvasive, and nonsurgical light treatment has been reported to reduce pain or inflammation, modulate immune responses, and promote tissue healing and regeneration. These fundamental pathophysiological responses underlie several oral and dental diseases, highlighting the broad scope of PBM interventions such as alleviating pain, discomfort, and swelling postsurgical procedures, including third-molar extractions, managing oncotherapy-associated mucositis and temporomandibular joint disorders, and promoting accelerated orthodontic tooth movements and implant osseointegration.

This narrative review provides the state-of-the-art in the PBM field, including history, terminology, mechanisms, devices, safety, regulations, and policy. The primary emphasis of this work is to outline the advances in mechanistic insights and clinical dosing paradigms that enable the safe and effective use of this therapy.

The importance of fundamental PBM education and training concepts focusing on light-tissue interactions, target tissue composition, evoked therapeutic biological responses, clinical diagnosis, and rationalized dose prescriptions is emphasized. Furthermore, several issues and logistical concerns should be addressed to enable the routine use of this innovative nonpharmacological treatment. A succinct version of this article is available as the American Dental Association Technical Report no. 189 Standards Committee on Dental Products Working Group 6.58.