Influence of Low‐Level Laser Therapy on Postoperative Pain After Dental Implant Placement: Results From 2 Randomised Controlled Trials

ABSTRACT Aim The objective of this study was to assess the influence of low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) on postoperative pain after dental implant placement. Material and Methods Data from two randomised controlled trials were used, where patients reported their maximum postoperative pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the frequency of analgesic intake within the first postoperative week. LLLT (Therapy XT, DMC Group, Sao Carlos, Brazil) gallium aluminium arsenide diode (GaAlAs) with 808 nm wavelength and 100 mW was applied in six points (80 s in each point of application; energy density = 11 J/cm 2 ) prior to bone perforation. The number of placed implants and the bone bed (extraction socket or healed site) were also recorded. The influence of the treatment and patient characteristics on the outcome was assessed using unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regression models. Result A total of 114 implants were placed in 62 patients. Lower postoperative pain scores were given in the LLLT group ( p = 0.013); however, no difference was observed in the analgesic intake ( p = 0.314). Also, no differences were observed when comparing single or multiple implants placement ( p = 0.121) and the bone bed site ( p = 0.502). Conclusion A single session of LLLT at the implant placement seems to be effective in reducing postoperative pain, regardless of the number of implants and the bone bed site.