Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy on oral wound healing: A scoping review

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has gained attention as a non-invasive approach for enhancing wound healing across various clinical applications. This review evaluates the effectiveness of LLLT on healing rates, pain reduction, and functional improvement across different conditions, including oral ulcers, aphthous stomatitis, diabetic ulcers, knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and bone healing with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). LLLT demonstrated high effectiveness in soft-tissue-related conditions, achieving notable healing rates (88% in aphthous stomatitis) and substantial pain relief (around 80% in oral conditions). However, its effectiveness was lower in bone-related conditions, indicating the potential need for combination therapies. LLLT also showed moderate improvements in functional outcomes, particularly in joint-related conditions like KOA. The photobiomodulatory effects of LLLT stimulate cellular regeneration, reduce inflammation, and promote pain relief, making it especially beneficial for soft-tissue ailments. These findings suggest that LLLT’s effectiveness varies by tissue type and treatment intensity, underscoring the importance of tailoring protocols for different conditions. Future research should focus on standardizing LLLT parameters for consistent outcomes across diverse clinical applications. This study supports the integration of LLLT as an adjunctive therapy, particularly in conditions where rapid tissue repair and pain management are crucial.