This blog post continues our investigation into PBM therapy and takes a closer look at the effects and applications of the PBM therapy available at our dental office.
While in the last post we discussed the increased cellular respiration and oxygenation PBM therapy stimulates, in certain wavelengths the practice creates other beneficial effects. Specifically, the wavelength of our PBM therapy aids in the dilation of the blood vessels, improving circulation. This occurs through PBM therapy signaling the production of the molecule Nitric Oxide. Nitric Oxide is a vasodilator, meaning a molecule that relaxes the blood vessel’s inner muscle, allowing it to widen and ease the flow of blood throughout the body.
The greatest boon of this type of PBM therapy is its accessibility and ease. PBM therapy requires no surgery, no injection and no hospitalization for its treatment to work. The lack of pain and surgical intervention allows ease for both the patient and the practitioner, as the light does its work without human manipulation. This sort of advanced healing can now come from a string of appointments rather than an extended hospitalization, easing the strain of treatment on a patient’s life temporally, financially and physically. For the practitioner, the handheld and ergonomic design of the lights allows for ease of use. The designs of the lights factor ease and protection into their designs, with spacers between the affected areas and the light to prevent cross-contamination and simplify the cleaning process.
So what dental maladies can PBM therapy help? Though the near-infrared light of PBM therapy has a widespread and generalized positive effect in seemingly all sections of the body, there are specific and tested applications of the therapy in dental contexts. For instance, a study was done on the effects of PBM therapy on the healing of dental implants. The study found a significant increase in the healing of the patients treated with PBM therapy noting higher stability and lessened bleeding. PBM therapy studies have also focused on PBM as an adjunct treatment alongside main healing for acute pericoronitis and found that the lasers were effective in stimulating healing and relief to the affected areas. There are also testimonials and case studies regarding PBM therapy’s increased healing factor, pictures of healing progress and pain relief.
If you have chronic oral pain or dental surgery coming up, consider asking our dentists about PBM therapy treatment. They are ready to administer to soothe pain and stimulate healing.
Works Cited
Palled, Varsha et al. “Assessment of the Healing of Dental Implant Surgical Site Following Low-Level Laser Therapy Using Bioclinical Parameters: An Exploratory Study.” The Journal of oral implantology vol. 47,3 (2021): 230-235. doi:10.1563/aaid-joi-D-18-00316
Photobiomodulation and Pain Management. Fontona, 2020. Fontona, www.fotona.com/media/objave/pbm_leaflet_distributors_2022_1.pdf.
Sezer, Ufuk et al. “Effects of low-level laser therapy as an adjunct to standard therapy in acute pericoronitis, and its impact on oral health-related quality of life.” Photomedicine and laser surgery vol. 30,10 (2012): 592-7. doi:10.1089/pho.2012.3274