Does Low-Level Laser Therapy Affect Recovery of Lingual and Inferior Alveolar Nerve Injuries? 2018

Michael Miloro, and Thalia-Rae Criddle
Professor and Head, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: mmiloro@uic.edu.

Iatrogenic damage to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and lingual nerve (LN) may occur during routine oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures. The primary aim of this study was to determine, using a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, whether the proportion of nerve-injured patients with postoperative neurosensory improvement over a 3-month period differed significantly between a control group and a low-level laser therapy (LLLT) group. The study sample consisted of 35 patients with iatrogenic nerve injury due to third molar odontectomy, dental implant placement, or local anesthetic injection. The investigators used a randomized, double-blind laser delivery system to administer either placebo or LLLT to patients who met the inclusion criteria. The outcome variable of neurosensory improvement was defined as a minimum 1-unit increase from baseline in visual analog scale rating and was based on standard objective clinical neurosensory testing. Study variables included the affected nerve (IAN or LN) and time from injury to treatment (3 to 12 months or >12 months). Univariate statistical analysis (χ2 test) was performed to determine significance between the groups. Neurosensory improvement was observed in 46.7% of the LLLT patients, who showed at least a 1-unit improvement at 3 months, compared with 38.5% improvement for controls (P = .66), regardless of the specific nerve involved (IAN or LN). In addition, no observed difference was noted between the study groups based on time from injury to treatment. This study failed to provide sufficient evidence to conclude that a difference in neurosensory improvement exists between the LLLT and placebo groups with IAN or LN injuries. However, this study is unique in the prospective double-blind study design and comprehensive neurosensory testing protocols. There is a continued need for further clinical studies on LLLT in oral and maxillofacial surgery nerve injuries.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011183 Postoperative Complications Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery. Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D011446 Prospective Studies Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D004311 Double-Blind Method A method of studying a drug or procedure in which both the subjects and investigators are kept unaware of who is actually getting which specific treatment. Double-Masked Study,Double-Blind Study,Double-Masked Method,Double Blind Method,Double Blind Study,Double Masked Method,Double Masked Study,Double-Blind Methods,Double-Blind Studies,Double-Masked Methods,Double-Masked Studies,Method, Double-Blind,Method, Double-Masked,Methods, Double-Blind,Methods, Double-Masked,Studies, Double-Blind,Studies, Double-Masked,Study, Double-Blind,Study, Double-Masked
D005260 Female Females
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes
D061221 Trigeminal Nerve Injuries Traumatic injuries to the TRIGEMINAL NERVE. It may result in extreme pain, abnormal sensation in the areas the nerve innervates on face, jaw, gums and tongue and can cause difficulties with speech and chewing. It is sometimes associated with various dental treatments. Cranial Nerve V Injury,Fifth Cranial Nerve Injuries,Fifth Cranial Nerve Injury,Fifth-Nerve Palsy, Traumatic,Fifth-Nerve Trauma,Injury, Cranial Nerve V,Injury, Fifth Cranial Nerve,Traumatic Fifth-Nerve Palsy,Trigeminal Nerve Avulsion,Trigeminal Nerve Contusion,Trigeminal Nerve Injury,Trigeminal Nerve Transection,Trigeminal Nerve Trauma,Trigeminal Neuropathy, Traumatic,Avulsion, Trigeminal Nerve,Avulsions, Trigeminal Nerve,Contusion, Trigeminal Nerve,Contusions, Trigeminal Nerve,Fifth Nerve Palsy, Traumatic,Fifth Nerve Trauma,Fifth-Nerve Palsies, Traumatic,Fifth-Nerve Traumas,Injuries, Trigeminal Nerve,Injury, Trigeminal Nerve,Nerve Avulsion, Trigeminal,Nerve Avulsions, Trigeminal,Nerve Contusion, Trigeminal,Nerve Contusions, Trigeminal,Nerve Injuries, Trigeminal,Nerve Injury, Trigeminal,Nerve Transection, Trigeminal,Nerve Transections, Trigeminal,Nerve Trauma, Trigeminal,Nerve Traumas, Trigeminal,Neuropathies, Traumatic Trigeminal,Neuropathy, Traumatic Trigeminal,Palsies, Traumatic Fifth-Nerve,Palsy, Traumatic Fifth-Nerve,Transection, Trigeminal Nerve,Transections, Trigeminal Nerve,Trauma, Fifth-Nerve,Trauma, Trigeminal Nerve,Traumas, Fifth-Nerve,Traumas, Trigeminal Nerve,Traumatic Fifth Nerve Palsy,Traumatic Fifth-Nerve Palsies,Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathies,Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathy,Trigeminal Nerve Avulsions,Trigeminal Nerve Contusions,Trigeminal Nerve Transections,Trigeminal Nerve Traumas,Trigeminal Neuropathies, Traumatic

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