ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a therapeutic laser in the control of postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus associated with the surgical removal of impacted third molars. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted in 2 groups of 15 patients each undergoing surgical removal of impacted lower third molars under local anesthesia. The experimental group received 4 J/cm(2) of energy density intraorally and extraorally, with a laser with a diode wavelength of 810 nm and output power of 100 mW in a continuous wave. The control group received only standard management. The degree of postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus was registered for both groups. RESULTS: The experimental group exhibited a lower intensity of postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus than the control group, without significant statistical differences. Patients of both groups required rescue medication; however, the time lapse between the end of the surgery and the administration of the medication was shorter for the control group. CONCLUSION: The use of therapeutic laser in the postoperative management of patients having surgical removal of impacted third molars, using the protocol of this study, decreases postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus, without statistically significant differences.
Subject(s)
Lasers, Semiconductor/therapeutic use , Low-Level Light Therapy , Molar, Third/surgery , Tooth, Impacted/surgery , Adolescent , Adult , Double-Blind Method , Edema/prevention & control , Female , Humans , Male , Mandible , Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control , Trismus/prevention & control , Young AdultABSTRACT
Se describen dos pacientes con el síndrome de Melkersson-Rosenthal (SMR), uno de ellos con parálisis facial reacurrente. Los principales hallazgos clínicos en ambos casos fueron edema labial importante y lengua escrotal. Se sometieron a tratamiento con quiloplastía de reducción y esteroides. Aparentemente la incidencia es rara en nuestro medio, pero es muy probable que algunos casos ocurran en forma imcompleta. Se hace una revisión de la literatura y se comentan las modalidades de diagnóstico y tratamiento
