Effectiveness of Laser Therapy and Laser Acupuncture on Treating Paraesthesia After Extraction of Lower Third Molars

Advanced techniques and innovations in peripheral nerve repair: a comprehensive review for clinical and experimental reference

Peripheral nerve injury, resulting from various physical and chemical causes, has a high incidence and significant functional impact. This injury, affecting both sensory and motor functions, can severely diminish quality of life and cause mental health issues. Consequently, it is a major focus of current research. Recent advancements in peripheral nerve repair technology, including the application of new techniques and materials, have expanded the options for nerve repair methods. A comprehensive article that combines the pathological process of peripheral nerve repair with these methods is needed to advance research in this field. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of various techniques for repairing peripheral nerve injuries. Beginning with the histopathology of nerve injury, it evaluates these techniques in detail to offer clinical guidance. This review summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of various peripheral nerve repair methods, including photobiological modulation therapy, suture repair, nerve graft repair, vein graft catheter repair, muscle graft repair, laser welding repair, nerve catheter repair, nerve sliding repair technology, growth factor-assisted repair, stem cell therapy, and exosome therapy. Additionally, it explores future directions in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries, providing valuable references for experimental research and clinical treatment.

[Low power laser as an adjuvant to paresthesia. report of two cases]

Tooth extraction or extraction is a common procedure in dental practice, although it is a common practice, it is not exempt from complications. Paraesthesia is defined as a neuropathy with altered sensations and permanent anesthesia. The case of two patients who attended the Department of Pathology at the Faculty of Dentistry with paresthesia is reported. Both were treated with low-power laser therapy, showing a significant improvement in their clinical condition. The application of low-power laser presents ideal benefits in various areas of the stomatological field. As it is a non-invasive, painless treatment and short sessions, the patient is encouraged to continue with the treatment until they are almost completely rehabilitated.

Nerve Injury and Photobiomodulation, a Promising Opportunity: A Scoping Review on Laser Assisted Protocols for Lesions in the Oral Region

The currently available therapeutic options for restoring function and sensitivity in long-term nervous injuries pose challenges. Microsurgery interventions for direct nerve repair often lead to serious complications and limited success. Non-surgical methods, although somewhat effective, have limited benefits. These methods involve drug administration, such as with analgesics or corticosteroids. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has emerged as a promising approach based on clinical and laboratory studies. PBMT stimulates the migration and proliferation of neuronal fiber cellular aggregates, as reported in the literature. Experimental studies on animal models with peripheral nerve compression injuries have shown that PBMT can enhance the functionality of damaged nerves, preserving their activity and preventing scar tissue formation. The mechanism of action depends on the wavelength, which can positively or negatively affect photo acceptor resonances, influencing their conformation and activities. These findings suggest that photobiomodulation may accelerate and improve nerve regeneration. This review explores various methodologies used in photobiomodulation for regenerating nerve sensitivity after surgical trauma involving nerve structures, in the oral and peri-oral region. Research was conducted to evaluate which laser-assisted therapeutic protocols are used to improve the recovery of nervous sensitivity, using the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and following the PRISMA methodology.

Laser acupuncture in the treatment of neuropathies in dentistry: a systematic review

Laser acupuncture can be used to treat neurosensory alterations and motor disorders caused by dental treatments. This study aimed to review the existing literature on the effects of laser acupuncture on neuropathies in the context of dentistry and to search for treatment modalities in which this technique is used. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and the PICOS strategy. Randomized clinical trials that evaluated laser acupuncture as a primary intervention for facial neuropathy were included. We searched the database for relevant studies and manually searched the gray literature until April 2022, and finally included four studies. The study was considered eligible if it included patients with paresthesia, facial paralysis, or neuralgia, neuropathies within dentistry, and referred to the application of laser acupuncture as a treatment method. The risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool. It was observed that the recommended wavelengths ranged from 790 nm to 810 nm, with a frequency of at least two applications per week, and to a greater or lesser degree, all evaluated studies obtained an improvement in sensory or motor recovery of the facial nerves. The use of laser acupuncture presented itself as a viable alternative in dentistry for the treatment of paresthesia and facial paralysis due to its therapeutic potential in neuropathic treatment (CRD42022344339).

An Initial Study on Automated Acupoint Positioning for Laser Acupuncture

Acupuncture plays an important role in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is one kind of an inexpensive and effective treatment. However, some people might be reluctant to receive acupuncture treatment due to fear of pain. Laser acupuncture, thanks to its painless and infection-free advantages, has recently become an alternative choice to traditional acupuncture. The accuracy of acupuncture point positioning has a decisive influence on the quality of laser acupuncture. In this study, built on top of our prior work, we proposed a low-cost automated acupoint positioning system for laser acupuncture. By integrating several machine learning algorithms and computer vision techniques, we design and implement a robot-assisted laser acupuncture system on top of a smartphone. Our contributions include the following: (a) development of an effective acupoint estimation algorithm with a localization error less than 5 mm; (b) implementation of a smartphone-controlled automated laser acupuncture system with lift-thrust function, as a point-of-care device, that can be used by patients to relieve their symptoms at home.