Systematic Review of Delivery Parameters Used in Dental Photobiomodulation Therapy

Objective: This systematic review of published data critically appraises the consistency in the reported delivery parameters used in photobiomodulation (PBM) therapies research within clinical dentistry and makes reporting recommendations for future clinical protocols. Background: Key to the standardization of randomized clinical trials and associated peer-reviewed articles is the disclosure of all laser and light-emitting diode operating parameters. The current status shows a lack of full parameters and significantly impacts on the ability to integrate published data with current and future investigation into clinical PBM therapy. Materials and methods: Search engines, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane, were scanned for investigation into the effects of PBM therapy research within clinical dentistry. Key words "Low-Level-Laser," "PBM," "Photobiomodulation," "Oral" and "Therapy" were used and a total of 754 articles identified, spanning a period of 9 years and 1 month between February 2009 and March 2018. Only human clinical trials were considered. Fifty-two articles were included in this investigation and the reported basic delivery parameters used in PBM therapies research were considered for each clinical trial. Results: The overall reported basic delivery parameters used in PBM therapies research were too inadequate to be able to be replicated in further studies. These included parameters related to the power meter, beam cross-sectional dynamics, fluence, and wider aspects of dosimetry. Conclusions: The delivery parameters used in PBM therapy research within clinical dentistry, investigated in this study, presented a wide variation in their recording or nonrecording of all significant elements needed to have scientific validity. A constant inconsistency in delivering valid, reliable, PBM therapy doses, to target tissues was also identified. The lack of consensus in delivering a sound protocol for PBM therapy, is partly due to the lack of adequate reported materials and methods, which are essential for replication of individual studies. One way to resolve this problem is for Journals to insist on all comprehensive parameter records, used in PBM therapies, to be part of author guidelines in submitting articles of studies on PBM therapy in clinical dentistry.