Low-level Laser Therapy as a Solution in the Dental Clinic: A Review and Case Report

Ten patients with TMJ disorder without any structural (bony) abnormality or distraction complained of different levels of pain. All cases were treated by diode laser (980 nm wavelength; Biolitec, smile-pro) with the use of the bleaching handpiece (noncontact, defocussed mode) at 1 W in continuous mode for 30 s per appoint- ment, over a total of 6 visits in 3 weeks. Eight further patients with aphthous ulcers of different sizes and loca- tions were treated with the same laser as above using the bleaching handpiece almost contacting the lesion (continuous mode) at 1W power for 3 s, which was repeated on the second day. Eight more patients with hyper- sensitive tooth cervices at different levels of severity were treated with Er:YAG laser with a special head designed for this purpose (Erwin AdvErl, J. Morita USA) at 30 mJ, 10 pps for 2 appointments. Only one patient needed a third visit. Finally, 2 patients with herpes labialis were treated with the same diode laser and parameters as above for 4 to 6 s for three sessions. All patients were satisfied after treatment and reported pain relief.