Effect of Photobiomodulation on Postoperative Pain in Endodontic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Oral Surgery
• Pain Management

Background:

• Endodontic surgery success rates are high, but postoperative pain is common.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen are standard but carry risks for cardiovascular patients.
• Photobiomodulation (PBM) shows promise for oral surgery pain and edema, but its use in endodontic surgery is not well-studied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if PBM reduces postoperative pain after endodontic surgery compared to ibuprofen.
• To assess secondary outcomes including analgesic use, swelling, bruising, and healing.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 36 patients undergoing endodontic surgery.
• Participants were divided into a PBM group (PBM + placebo ibuprofen) and an Ibuprofen group (PBM simulation + ibuprofen).
• PBM was applied post-surgery, at 24 hours, and 7 days. Pain was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS) at 24 hours.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in postoperative pain, analgesic consumption, swelling, or bruising between the PBM and ibuprofen groups.
• Bone repair and lesion size reduction were comparable between groups.
• The PBM group demonstrated significantly better soft tissue healing at 7 days and lower fistula prevalence at 24 hours.

Conclusions:

• Postoperative PBM was not superior to ibuprofen for pain reduction 24 hours after endodontic surgery.
• Improved soft tissue healing and reduced fistula prevalence were observed with PBM, warranting further investigation in larger studies.