13th World Congress for Laser Dentistry

26-28, April 2012

Barcelona, Spain

Meeting Abstract

Sponsors: World Federation for Laser Dentistry

-  Poster 92

TITLE: The effects of laser phototherapy on oral health related quality of life.

AUTHORS: Carvalho CM, Cangussu MCT, Marques AMC, Aciole JMS, Soares LGP, Pinheiro ALB.

Biophotonic Center (UFBA)

SOURCE: Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2012 May 1;17(Supplement1):S240.

* doi:10.4317/medoral.17643740

http://dx.doi.org/10.4317/medoral.17643740

Abstract

The use of new technologies, such as the laser, is important to improve the quality of life of the patients mainly in cases of pain. Laser phototherapy is a non-invasive treatment that show good patients’ acceptance and may be used in many orofacial pathologies. This study evaluated the impact of laser phototherapy in the treatment of several orofacial pathologies through the OHIP-14 index. The patients’ files treated at the Biophotonic Center between 2009 and 2011 were reviewed and statistical analysis was carried out. There were 246 patients that fulfilled the inclusion criteria of complete 12 sessions. Diode lasers infrared (λ780nm or λ830nm) and/or red (λ660nm), 30/40mW, spot<3mm, were used. The mean age was 54 years and most of the patients were female (78%) and single (54%). The oral pathologies treated were temporomandibular disorder (32.6%), trigeminal neuralgia (27.2%), paresthesia (27.2%),bell´s palsy (7.3%), mucositis (3.3%), and dentin hypersensitivy (2.4%). Before treatment high impact in life´s quality was related (OHIP-14 = 21). At the end of lasertherapy there was a reduction on this impact in all pathologies (OHIP-14= 12.4). The best results in quality of life were achieved in pain cases (p < 0.001). Laser phototherapy presented positive effects in the treatment of the orofacial pathologies studied. The laser treatment promotes a reduction in the negative impact of the pathologies in routine daily activities.