Effect of low-level laser therapy on healing after sinus floor augmentation using allograft and xenograft bone
Sebastian Dominiak1, Aleksandra Kowalczyk2, Paweł Kubasiewicz-Ross1
1Department of Oral Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
Background:
In cases of alveolar bone atrophy prior to implant treatment, sinus floor elevation remains the treatment of choice. During a sinus lift procedure, a stabilizing grafting material is required. Among the many available options, xenografts and allografts are widely used. Owing to their different properties, they can be applied in various clinical settings. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is an increasingly popular adjunctive tool in regenerative dentistry. Its beneficial effects on the healing process are well established. However, its ability to influence bone healing following sinus floor elevation remains insufficiently investigated.
Objectives:
The primary objective was to compare 2 bone grafts of different origins (allograft and xenograft) used in sinus lift procedures. The secondary objective was to evaluate the influence of LLLT on postoperative recovery in terms of pain, trismus, and soft tissue response.
Material And Methods:
Twenty patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups. A xenograft was used in half of the patients, whereas an allograft was used in the remaining patients. In each group, 5 patients were randomly selected to receive adjunctive LLLT using a diode laser with a wavelength of 635 nm and an energy density of 6 J/cm2. All patients underwent clinical and radiological examinations before surgery. Subsequently, a standard lateral sinus lift procedure was performed. Follow-up visits were conducted on postoperative days 3 and 7, during which pain, trismus, and swelling were assessed. After 135 days, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and clinical examinations were performed to evaluate bone gain, density, and homogeneity.
Results:
Low-level laser therapy significantly reduced trismus. Trismus was also less pronounced in male patients. Low-level laser therapy was associated with increased facial swelling. Pain levels were low, with no significant differences between the study groups. After 135 days, allografts demonstrated greater homogeneity, whereas xenografts exhibited higher radiographic density.
Conclusions:
Low-level laser therapy may improve recovery following sinus lift surgery by reducing postoperative trismus. No significant differences were observed between the grafting materials in terms of bone gain. However, differences in radiodensity suggest distinct resorption patterns, with xenografts exhibiting higher density values after 135 days.
