Three-dimensional evaluation of the effect of low-level laser therapy on facial swelling after lower third molar surgery: A randomized, placebo-controlled study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on pain, trismus, and swelling of patients whose impacted 3rd molar tooth was extracted compared to placebo or "sham" treatment and measure volumetrically the edema with a three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging device (3dMD face system). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients over 17 years of age were included in the study. Patients were randomized to three groups; Group 1, the control group, received only routine management (ice application) (n = 15); Group 2, received single-dose LLLT immediately after surgery (n = 15); and Group 3, placebo group, received sham therapy immediately after surgery (n = 15). In this study, a gallium-aluminum-arsenide diode laser device was used. The laser was applied extraorally (0.3 W, 40 s, 4 J/cm2). The trismus, pain, and facial swelling were evaluated. A 3D surface imaging device (3dMD Photogrammetric System) was used to evaluate the volumetric changes of the swelling. The 3D morphology of the facial swelling was recorded using this imaging device immediately before surgery, the second day after surgery, and the 7th day after surgery. IBM SPSS statistics 22.0 program was used in the statistical assessment and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the edema and trismus between the groups. The pain level in Group 2 was significantly lower than that in Group 3 at all-time points. Furthermore, the pain level in Group 2 was significantly lower than that in Group 1 on day 7. CONCLUSIONS: LLLT reduced the intensity of pain following third molar surgery by single dose. The results of this study revealed that LLLT reduced facial swelling, but no significant differences were found among the three groups. In addition, a 3D craniomaxillofacial imaging method provided insight into volume changes after 3rd molar surgery and the evaluation of facial swelling in an objective way.

An evaluation of effects of platelet-rich-fibrin on postoperative morbidities after lower third molar surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to assess whether the use of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) decreased the pain, swelling, and trismus levels of postoperative third molar surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a double-blinded, split-mouth randomized study, thirty patients (6 male/24 female, mean age 20.32 years) with bilateral symmetric impacted third molars were enrolled in this study to receive surgery. The PRF mass was randomly placed in one of the extraction sockets, whereas the other socket was left without treatment. The outcome variables were pain, maximum mouth opening (trismus), swelling (edema), and the presence of dry socket which were measured using a 10-point visual analog scale, manual calipers, and 3dMD facial imaging system which was used for the 1st time in the third molar surgery. RESULTS: Statistical analyses revealed that there were no significant differences between the control and study groups regarding postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that PRF was not observed to have a positive effect on postoperative discomfort, so even though, PRF is presumed to have positive effects on healing and recovery processes.