Assessment of immediate pain relief with laser treatment in recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To compare immediate pain relief, healing time between minor recurrent aphthous ulcers treated with a single session of carbon dioxide (CO2) laser and a placebo.

STUDY DESIGN:

A prospective clinical study was performed on 25 patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Pretreatment pain levels were recorded using a numerical rating scale. Ulcers were randomized to either receive treatment or placebo. Pain levels were assessed immediately after treatment and after 24 h. Healing was assessed on days 3 and 4, and once every 2 days thereafter for 2 weeks.

RESULTS:

Mean pain scores in the laser group were significantly reduced immediately after treatment (0.68 ± 0.6) compared with pretreatment (8.48 ± 0.71; P < .001). In contrast, the placebo group showed little difference in pain scores between pretreatment (8.08 ± 0.70) and immediately after treatment (7.96 ± 0.84). In the laser group, significant improvements in healing times were observed (4.08 ± 0.81 vs. 7.84 ± 0.90 days; P < .001).

CONCLUSION:

CO2 laser therapy in recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) provides immediate pain relief sustained over 24 h, along with accelerated healing time.

• Authors: Shesha Prasad R, Anuradha Pai
• Journal: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol) Vol. 116 Issue 2 Pg. 189-93 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 2212-4411 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23622766 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Placebos

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Lasers, Gas (therapeutic use)
• Low-Level Light Therapy (methods)
• Male
• Pain (prevention & control)
• Pain Measurement
• Placebos
• Prospective Studies
• Single-Blind Method
• Stomatitis, Aphthous (radiotherapy)
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome
• Wound Healing (radiation effects)
• Young Adult