Nd:YAG laser therapy on postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus after mandibular third molar surgery: a randomized double-blinded clinical study

Nd: YAG laser irradiation in the treatment of live pulp preservation in pediatric cariogenic pulpitis

BACKGROUND

Dental pulpitis significantly impacts oral function and quality of life. Treatments like direct pulp capping aim to preserve pulp vitality.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the application value of Nd:YAG laser irradiation in preserving pulp vitality in children with caries-induced pulpitis.

METHODS

This study, conducted from June 2019 to June 2023, included 89 children undergoing pulp vitality preservation treatment for caries-induced pulpitis. The children were divided into two groups using sealed envelopes: 44 in the control group received pulp capping treatment, while the study group received Nd:YAG laser-assisted pulp capping treatment. The efficacy, oral indicators, oral function, changes in root apex diameter and root length, changes in gingival crevicular fluid inflammatory factors, and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups before and 3 months after treatment.

RESULTS

The total effective rates were 97.78% in the study group and 95.45% in the control group, with no significant difference between the groups (p> 0.05). Before treatment, there were no differences in gingival index, plaque index, and probing bleeding index between the groups (p> 0.05). After treatment, both groups showed decreased periodontal indexes compared to before treatment, with the study group showing lower values than the control group (p< 0.05). Chewing and biting function scores were similar between the groups before and after treatment (p> 0.05), but both groups showed decreased scores after treatment (p< 0.05). The study group had a higher percentage decrease in root apex diameter and a greater increase in root length compared to the control group (p< 0.05). During treatment, one case of tooth discoloration occurred in the study group (2.27%), while the control group had two cases of tooth discoloration and one case of secondary caries, resulting in a complication rate of 6.67%. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the groups (p> 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Nd:YAG laser irradiation effectively preserves pulp vitality in children with caries-induced pulpitis, improving periodontal health, reducing root apex diameter, and increasing root length with high safety.

Combining red photobiomodulation therapy with polydioxanone threads for wrinkle reduction in the glabella region: A randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial

The combination of polydioxanone (PDO) threads with other technologies has garnered significant interest for rejuvenation purposes. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has the potential to improve patient comfort and recovery after minimally invasive rejuvenation protocols and also contribute to the overall efficacy of these procedures, fostering an integrative approach to cutaneous rejuvenation. The objective os this work was to investigate concurrent application of PDO threads and red LED PBM on glabellar static wrinkles, in a parallel randomized sham-controlled trial. Forty individuals with Glogau aging classification levels 3 and 4, static glabellar wrinkles, and no significant comorbidities received PDO threads applied along glabellar line. Effective PBM group received 1.35 J and 630 nm red LED light punctually along threads, twice weekly for nine sessions over 30 days. The outcome measures were swelling assessment, dermal thickness and PDO thread degradation via linear ultrasound. No swelling was detected 24 h post-PDO thread application, hindering PBM effect assessment. PDO threads induced dermal thickening; no added effect with PBM. No significant difference in thread hydrolysis between groups, though some ultrasound records inconclusive on thread presence. The absence of swelling may stem from various factors, including the timing of post-procedure swelling assessment, operator proficiency in thread application, and procedural characteristics. No evidence supports the notion that PBM augments dermal thickening, however other light parameters should be studied. Insufficient data to demonstrate PBM's effectiveness in controlling post-procedure swelling. Combination of PBM with PDO thread application doesn't enhance dermal thickening, nor accelerate thread degradation at the parameters used here.

Relationship between the Status of Third Molars and the Occurrence of Dental and Periodontal Lesions in Adjacent Second Molars in the Polish Population: A Radiological Retrospective Observational Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of third molars on caries, external root resorption, and alveolar bone loss on the distal surface of adjacent second molars. A total of 2488 panoramic radiographs of adult Poles were evaluated. Third molars were classified, according to eruption status, into non-impacted, partially, or completely impacted, and according to angulation into horizontal, mesioangular, vertical, and distoangular. Completely impacted third molars were assigned as reference group. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for the occurrence of the above-mentioned pathologies were 1.39 (1.09-2.21), 6.51 (3.72-10.11), and 2.42 (1.22-4.09), respectively, for second molars with adjacent erupted third molars and 1.54 (1.11-2.82), 10.65 (7.81-20.19), and 5.21 (3.38-10.81), respectively, when partially impacted third molars were next to second molars. The ORs of lesions were significantly higher for horizontally and mesioangularly impacted third molars. Within the limitation of a radiological study, it might be concluded that the presence of erupted third molars is a risk factor for caries, while the presence of impacted third molars increases the risk of root resorption and bone loss on the distal surface of second molars.