Effect of low level energy laser irradiation on gingival inflammation

The effect of low level energy infra-red laser irradiation on gingival inflammation was studied. Gingivitis was induced in ten female dental students by refraining from all oral hygiene measures for 28 days. On days 21 and 24 the marginal gingiva, buccal to one of the lateral mandibular incisors, was exposed to 4 minutes of laser irradiation (total dose = 1J). Serving as a control site the gingiva of the contralateral incisors was exposed to ordinary light. There was no statistical difference between the laser exposed sites and the control sites related to either plaque formation or gingival bleeding. The gingivitis reaction was evaluated with the aid of a stereophotographic method by calculating changes in the number of gingival vessels. It was found that the number of vessels identified increased over time for both laser exposed and control sites. The difference between sites at day 28 was not statistically significant (t = 0.82, P > 0.05). These results suggest that low energy laser irradiation (LLLT) does not influence the inflammatory reaction of the gingiva.