Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy and Dexamethasone in Reducing the Severity of Post-Operative Inflammatory Response Following Surgical Extraction of Mandibular Third Molars.

Objectives: To assesses the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) over dexamethasone in reducing postoperative edema and trismus following surgical removal of mandibular third molars.

Study Design: A single-center, parallel group, randomized, prospective, single-blind clinical trial on 50 patients between the age 18-40 years, requiring surgical extraction of mandibular third molars classified as mesioangular, class II and position B impactions, was selected for the study. The selected patients were randomly divided into two groups: , Soft Tissue Diode laser was applied intra-orally and extra-orally at the insertion of the masseter. , 8 mg of Dexamethasone was given intravenously preoperatively.Trismus and edema were calculated preoperatively and on the 1st and 5th postoperative day. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using student's t test.

Results: Trismus (4.61 ± 0.26 cm [ = 0.0001]) in the LLLT group was significantly less than the dexamethasone group (trismus: 3.82 ± 0.73 cm). Edema at different anatomic locations in the LLLT group was also significantly less than the dexamethasone group (Angle-tragus [ = 0.0008], angle-canthus [ = 0.0021], angle-ala [ = 0.0258], angle-commissure [ = 0.0168], angle-mentus [ = 0.0227]).

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that LLLT was beneficial in reduction in edema and trismus compared to dexamethasone following surgical extraction of third molars.