Diode lasers and LEDs are equally effective tools for phototherapy: study

In dentistry, patient and physician adoption of diode lasers and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) continues to increase as research indicates that diode lasers and light-emitting diodes may be used for surgical and nonsurgical procedures. The goal of this literature review was to critically analyze randomized controlled trials and experimental trials to provide evidence-based recommendations on the therapeutic uses of diode lasers and light-emitting diodes in oral applications based on published efficacy and safety data.

A literature review was performed of published literature on patients receiving periodontal and oral surgery treatment that included the use of diode lasers and/or the use of light-emitting diodes phototherapy to determine if the outcomes of phototherapy were superior to conventional therapy and if one form of phototherapy was superior to the other.

Results:

• Eighteen original clinical trials and experimental studies were suitable for review.
• The diode laser was presented as an effective tool in soft tissue management due to its cutting precision, incision depth, analgesic effects, and elimination of bacterial load and in periodontal applications for probing depth reduction when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP).
• Light-emitting diodes also served as an effective tool for pain management, wound healing, and efficacy when used as an adjunct to SRP.
• Other than one study, all the available studies reviewed were either evaluating the efficacy of diode lasers or light-emitting diodes, but not both.
• Therefore, the results for determining the more effective tool were inconclusive.

Thus, the researchers concluded that according to existent data, diode lasers and light-emitting diodes are equally effective tools for phototherapy in periodontology and oral surgery. Although fewer studies exist examining the use of light-emitting diode for phototherapy, the studies all revealed positive results. Further clinical comparative investigations utilizing both diode lasers and light-emitting diodes are needed to determine the superiority of this application for periodontal management and oral surgery.

Reference:

Lesniewski, Agata, et al. "Comparing the Use of Diode Lasers to Light-Emitting Diode Phototherapy in Oral Soft and Hard Tissue Procedures: a Literature Review." Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery, 2022.