The Use of Laser Photobiomodulation in the Treatment of Oro-Facial Neurosensory Alterations—A Case Series from a University Clinic

Objective: To describe the experience of use of laser photobiomodulation in the management of orofacial neurosensory alterations and its clinical outcomes in a series of cases at a public university clinic in Northeast Brazil. Methods: A retrospective case series study was conducted using secondary data from 125 patients treated at the Biophotonics Center of the Federal University of Bahia between 2003 and 2019, all with a confirmed diagnosis of orofacial neurosensory alterations and who were referred to the service by other primary healthcare units in the municipality. Data collection included sociodemographic characteristics, clinical and dental history, and the main patient complaint. The therapeutic protocol consisted of infrared diode laser application (λ 700–808 nm) in continuous mode, performed every 48 h, totaling 12 individualized sessions per treatment cycle. Sensory evolution was monitored using the inverted Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Patients quantified their perceived sensitivity and discomfort at each session, assigning values from 0 to 10, and monitored symptom progression and treatment response over time. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical approaches. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of UFBA (protocol 60327516500005024). Results: Tooth extraction was the most frequently reported etiological factor (60%), with an average of three treatment cycles per patient. At the end of follow-up, 67% of individuals reported changes in symptoms, including partial or complete resolution. Cases associated with orthognathic surgery required more treatment cycles; however, no statistically significant association was observed between the number of cycles and the reported outcomes. Conclusion: Laser photobiomodulation has been employed as a therapeutic approach in the management of orofacial neurosensory alterations in this clinical setting. The findings describe patterns of use and the distribution of patient-reported outcomes. Given the observational design, the results do not allow for causal interpretation or inference regarding treatment effectiveness.