Evaluation of the efficacy of photobiomodulation for the reduction of dental injection pain: a split-mouth placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial

Dental procedures often require the use of local anesthetic injections, which can be a big challenge in dentistry. Dental practice aims to ensure that patients receive treatment with no pain. This study evaluated the effect of Low-Level Therapy (LLLT) on pain caused by local anesthesia injection in dentistry. A split-mouth study using a Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) design was performed on 35 patients. In group A, patients received photobiomodulation followed by a standard local anesthetic agent. The level of pain experienced by patients with the use of photobiomodulation was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). In group B, photobiomodulation was applied to the mucosa but not activated, and local anesthesia was administered. Pain levels were assessed in both groups using VAS. A comparison between the two groups was done. Persons in the photobiomodulation group reported significantly less pain compared to the other group (P-value = 0.0001). Additionally, there was a significant statistical difference between the two groups regarding patient pain, including differences among each gender and age group (P-value < 0.05). Based on this study's findings, low-level laser light therapy (LLLT) using a 980-nm diode laser before local infiltration anesthesia has been shown to reduce injection pain in adults. It can be used as an effective adjuvant treatment. Additional research is necessary to refine laser parameters and assess their efficacy in various dental procedures.