Treatment of Aphthous Ulcers with Photodynamic Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess whether photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers a clinically effective alternative for treating oral aphthous ulcers, contributing to the ongoing quest for methods to expedite their treatment process amidst the limited understanding of their etiology. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study involved thirty volunteers with aphthous ulcers, split equally between a control group and a PDT group. Patients in the PDT group received laser treatment using Indocyanine green upon admission, while the control group received no intervention. Lesion diameter was measured at presentation and on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th days for all patients, with wound healing assessed on the 7th day. Additionally, pain levels were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) preoperatively and on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days for the PDT group, and on the corresponding days for the control group. RESULTS: Lesion diameters in the PDT group showed a significant reduction over time (p=0.001), particularly from preoperative to final measurements. The control group also exhibited a decrease, albeit slower (p=0.001). The 7th-day healing scores favored the PDT group significantly (p=0.012). VAS scores in the PDT group decreased significantly over time (p=0.001), indicating pain reduction. A similar trend was observed in the control group, albeit slower. Between-group differences in healing data and pain data were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: PDT proves effective in reducing aphthous ulcer diameters and pain intensity, facilitating faster healing than the control group. These results advocate for PDT as a viable treatment option for aphthous lesions.

Evaluation of the efficacy of topical rifamycin application on postoperative complications after lower impacted wisdom teeth surgery.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a single-dose topical rifamycin application on postoperative complications after impacted lower third molar surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, controlled clinical study consisted of individuals with bilaterally impacted lower third molars that would be extracted for orthodontic reasons. The extraction sockets were irrigated with 3 ml/250 mg of rifamycin solution in Group 1, while in Group 2 (control group) the extraction sockets were irrigated with 20 ml of physiological saline. Pain intensity was measured daily for 7 days by using visual analog scale. Trismus and edema were evaluated preoperatively and on the postoperative days 2 and 7 by calculating the proportional changes in maximum mouth opening and mean distance between reference points of the face, respectively. Paired samples t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and Chi-square test were used to analyze the study variables. RESULTS: 35 patients (19 female, 16 male) were included in the study. The mean age of all participants was 22.19±4.98. Alveolitis was observed in 8 patients, (6 in the control group, 2 in the rifamycin group). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of trismus and swelling measurements on the 2nd and 7th postoperative days (p>0.05). VAS scores were significantly low in rifamycin group on postoperative days 1 and 4 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Within the limits of the present study, topical rifamycin application reduced the incidence of alveolitis, prevented infection, and provided analgesic effect after surgical removal of impacted third molars.

Can Photobiomodulation Therapy Be an Alternative to Methylprednisolone in Reducing Pain, Swelling, and Trismus After Removal of Impacted Third Molars?

Background and objective: Studies investigating an alternative to corticosteroids in terms of potential side effects after surgical removal of impacted third molars are still ongoing. Accordingly, the present randomized single-blind study aimed to compare the efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and methylprednisolone on pain, edema, and trismus after surgical removal of impacted third molars. Methods: The study included 30 healthy patients with bilaterally impacted lower third molars. The side (right or left molar) that would be extracted at first and the treatment (PBMT or corticosteroid) that would be applied to this side were decided by tossing a coin. The time interval between two surgical operations was at least 3 weeks. In the laser group, immediately after the surgical procedure, PBMT was applied extraorally to the insertion point of the masseter muscle for 60 sec with an output power of 0.3 W and an energy density of 6 J/cm2 and then repeated on postoperative days 1 and 2. In the corticosteroid group, 40 mg/2 mL methylprednisolone sodium succinate was injected postoperatively into the masseter muscle with the intrabuccal approach. On postoperative day 1, methylprednisolone injection (20 mg/1 mL) was repeated. Pain was evaluated using the visual analog scale on postoperative days 1, 2, and 7. Edema (in mm) and trismus (in mm) were evaluated preoperatively and on postoperative days 2 and 7. Results: There were no significant differences between the PBMT and methylprednisolone administration in terms of postoperative pain, edema, and trismus. Conclusions: Within the limits of the present study, PBMT was considered an alternative and a useful method for controlling inflammatory complications following impacted wisdom tooth surgery as it exhibited similar clinical efficacy to that of methylprednisolone.

Clinical comparison of the use of ER,CR:YSGG and diode lasers in second stage implants surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of diode and erbium, chromium: yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) lasers in second-stage implant surgery applications. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that was carried out on patients who received implant treatment at the Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Periodontology, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey between January 2017 and January 2018. Implants of the patients in the first group (n=20) were exposed with 940 nm Ga-Al-As diode laser while the implants of the second group (n=20) were uncovered with 2780 nm Er,Cr:YSGG laser in the second-stage surgery. Visual analogue scale (VAS) values during day 0 and following the operation on days 1, 2, 3 intraoperative bleeding grades, number of analgesics used in the postoperative period, operation time per implant, and postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: When gender, smoking, the presence of systemic disease, toothbrushing frequency, analgesic use, bleeding and complications observed at the control session were analyzed, no statistically significant relationship was found between the 2 groups. It was observed that males had statistically significant higher VAS values than females (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: Since diode lasers are more economical, smaller, and can meet the clinical needs of clinicians, it is likely that these lasers may be the preferred choice of the clinicians in surgical procedures.