Instead of reaching for the medicine cabinet next time you have a toothache, you may want to reach for a red light! A light or laser treatment in many cases is now just as effective, if not more so, at managing and relieving pain than an aspirin or ibuprofen. To that end, this blog post explores the history and function of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, detailing the hows and whys of that healing.
The effects of PBM therapy were discovered in 1965 when a Hungarian doctor named Endre Mester attempted to mimic new findings that posited lasers as a potential treatment for cancerous tumors. However, the laser he used for his testing was much less powerful than those used in the scientific findings, and thus the tumors were unaffected. He did notice that the skin surrounding the tumors, which had been shaved for the procedure, seemed to heal and grow hair back faster following the use of the laser. Because the laser he used was so mild, being one that could not burn human skin, he named these potentially therapeutic effects low-level light laser therapy or cold laser therapy. As years passed, and more research and testing were compiled to corroborate Mester’s findings, it was discovered that LED lights, used in traffic and flashlights, produced similar results to the lasers. Thus, the practice was renamed photobiomodulation.
Though researchers could see the effects, the ways in which PBM therapy actually functioned remained obscured. But scholars have now come up with a confident hypothesis. PBM therapy functions by targeting the cell’s mitochondria. Often touted as the powerhouse of the cell, the mitochondria generate the energy cells need to survive. They contain many chains of proteins, one of which being cytochrome c oxidase which contains heme and copper that absorb light. Red and infrared light is absorbed best. This is the light PBM utilizes, typically emitting waves between 600-1000nm. So, when a PBM light is shone on an area, that light is absorbed into the mitochondria, allowing the cells to function more productively. It can be basically understood as a harnessed and magnified sunlight reaction for the body. Anatomically the effects of the light include increased blood flow, more internal energy, and even stem cell activation. Beyond accelerating healing, PBM has been shown to relieve inflammation and acute or chronic pain.
This practice offers photobiomodulation to aid in managing any oral and/or facial pain. Call now at 484-887-0777 to book an appointment if you are interested!
Works Cited
Anders, Juanita. “Photobiomodulation.” American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery, Inc., 27 June 2016, www.aslms.org/for-the-public/treatments-using-lasers-and-energy-based-devices/photobiomodulation.
Jarry, Jonathan, M.Sc. “The Hype Around Photobiomodulation.” McGill: Office for Science and Society, 20 Jan. 2023, www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking/hype-around-photobiomodulation.
“What is Photobiomodulation (PBM Therapy)?” Thorlaser, www.thorlaser.com/PBM/.