EFEITOS DA LASERTERAPIA DE BAIXA INTENSIDADE NO CONTROLE DA DOR E NA REPARAÇÃO PERIAPICAL EM TRATAMENTOS ENDODÔNTICOS: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

Low-intensity laser therapy (LLLT), also known as photobiomodulation, has been extensively studied as adjuvant therapy in pain control and the promotion of periapical repair in endodontic treatments. This article aims to review the scientific literature on the effects of LLLT in these clinical contexts. Postoperative pain is a common complication after root canal treatment, usually associated with inflammatory processes in periapical tissues. Traditionally, management involves the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, the search for non-pharmacological alternatives has grown. Reviewed studies show that LLLT can reduce pain intensity in the first 24 to 72 hours after treatment, and promote bone regeneration and tissue healing. Although the results are promising, the heterogeneity of the protocols and the methodological limitation of some studies indicate the need for additional research to standardize their clinical application. For this research, we used the electronic databases: U.S National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library and Lilacs. In addition, two descriptors were used for the composition of the search key, being the following (MeSH/DeCS). After research, it is concluded that LLLT is an effective complementary approach in the endodontic context, with potential to improve patient comfort and therapeutic outcomes. Although more standardized studies are needed to consolidate their therapeutic protocols.