Comparing the effect of diode laser against acyclovir cream for the treatment of herpes labialis

Efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy in recurrent herpes labialis management: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

This study is aimed at assessing the therapeutic efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for the management of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL) by evaluating both pain and clinical recovery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted on 40 patients with RHL, and they were randomly divided into two groups, where 20 patients received treatment with PBMT (650 nm, 100 mW, 4.7 J/cm2), continuous mode, for 120 s, and placebo cream, while another 20 patients (control group) were treated with acyclovir cream 5% (5 times/5 days) and passive laser. Pain was assessed at five different times. The day when the complete disappearance of the pain was observed and the day when the crust fell off spontaneously were also recorded.

RESULTS

The pain level in the control group was significantly higher than that in the PBMT group after the second application of the laser, while the differences were not significant between the two groups at other times. The pain in the PBMT group disappeared faster than that in the control group, but the difference was not significant in terms of clinical recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Photobiomodulation therapy of herpes labialis reduced pain significantly faster than acyclovir, but there was no difference in healing time between the groups in light of the parameters used in this study.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

PBMT is a promising treatment that may be an effective alternative to acyclovir in the management of recurrent herpes labialis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN

com ID: ISRCTN87606522.

Interventions for treatment of herpes labialis (cold sores on the lips)

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows:

To assess the effects of interventions for treating herpes labialis among immunocompetent people.

Is low-level laser therapy effective in the treatment of herpes labialis? Systematic review and meta-analysis

The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in the treatment of herpes labialis. The searches were carried out independently by 2 researchers and the articles were selected through the electronic databases according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria previously established. Initially, 480 articles were found, of which 7 randomized clinical trials and 1 clinical trial were selected. In total, 928 patients were included. In the meta-analysis, the mean healing time for laser use was significant, showing a mean reduction of 1.37 [CI 95% = 0.92 to 1.82] days for tissue healing (p < 0.0001). In the meta-analysis to evaluate the time for crust formation, there was no significant difference between the groups and no significant reduction in the mean time for crust formation (p = 0.150). Only one of the selected studies had a low risk of bias. The use of low-level laser proved to be effective in the treatment of herpes labialis. However, due to the high risk of bias in the included studies, there is a need to carry out new standardized studies to prove the effectiveness of this therapy.

Photobiomodulation for Preventive Therapy of Recurrent Herpes Labialis: A 2-Year In Vivo Randomized Controlled Study

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the application of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in the prevention of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL) through a randomized controlled clinical trial. Background data: RHL is a lifelong infection that effects patients' quality of life. In the literature PBMT has shown positive results preventing RHL, decreasing recurrences and severity of lesions. Despite the good results reported, there are still few controlled clinical studies published on the subject. Methods: For this study, 158 volunteers were recruited and were randomly divided into three study groups: Laser 1-1 J/point (L1J): n = 61, Laser 2-2 J/point (L2J): n = 50, and placebo-0 J/point: n = 47. The treatment consisted of a protocol of 15 sessions throughout 6 months and 2 years of follow-up posttreatment. Results: The results showed that L1J presented the most satisfactory results concerning the reduction of the number of lesions per year and less severity of recurrences in the long-term evaluation when compared with L2J. Both Laser Groups (L1J and L2J) were statistically more efficient than placebo in all aspects analyzed. All patients who received laser treatment (L1J and L2J) and presented recurrences had significant improvement in frequency and/or severity of lesions. No patient had side effects from treatment. Conclusions: PBMT can be effective in the reduction of the frequency of recurrences of RHL and in the severity of postirradiation lesions that may appear.

Innovative Concepts and Recent Breakthrough for Engineered Graft and Constructs for Bone Regeneration: A Literature Systematic Review

Background: For decades, regenerative medicine and dentistry have been improved with new therapies and innovative clinical protocols. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate through a critical review the recent innovations in the field of bone regeneration with a focus on the healing potentials and clinical protocols of bone substitutes combined with engineered constructs, growth factors and photobiomodulation applications. Methods: A Boolean systematic search was conducted by PubMed/Medline, PubMed/Central, Web of Science and Google scholar databases according to the PRISMA guidelines. Results: After the initial screening, a total of 304 papers were considered eligible for the qualitative synthesis. The articles included were categorized according to the main topics: alloplastic bone substitutes, autologous teeth derived substitutes, xenografts, platelet-derived concentrates, laser therapy, microbiota and bone metabolism and mesenchymal cells construct. Conclusions: The effectiveness of the present investigation showed that the use of biocompatible and bio-resorbable bone substitutes are related to the high-predictability of the bone regeneration protocols, while the oral microbiota and systemic health of the patient produce a clinical advantage for the long-term success of the regeneration procedures and implant-supported restorations. The use of growth factors is able to reduce the co-morbidity of the regenerative procedure ameliorating the post-operative healing phase. The LLLT is an adjuvant protocol to improve the soft and hard tissues response for bone regeneration treatment protocols.

Effects of Physical Stimulation in the Field of Oral Health

Physical stimulation has been widely used in clinical medicine and healthcare due to its noninvasiveness. The main applications of physical stimulation in the oral cavity include laser, ultrasound, magnetic field, and vibration, which have photothermal, cavitation, magnetocaloric, and mechanical effects, respectively. In addition, the above four stimulations with their unique biological effects, which can play a role at the gene, protein, and cell levels, can provide new methods for the treatment and prevention of common oral diseases. These four physical stimulations have been used as important auxiliary treatment methods in the field of orthodontics, implants, periodontal, dental pulp, maxillofacial surgery, and oral mucosa. This paper systematically describes the application of physical stimulation as a therapeutic method in the field of stomatology to provide guidance for clinicians. In addition, some applications of physical stimulation in specific directions are still at the research stage, and the specific mechanism has not been fully elucidated. To encourage further research on the oral applications of physical stimulation, we elaborate the research results and development history of various physical stimuli in the field of oral health.

The effectiveness of home-use photobiomodulation toothbrush for treating dentin hypersensitivity: A pilot study

Background and Aims

Dentin hypersensitivity is a frequent oral condition among patients suffering from gingival recession. Recent studies have suggested that photobiomodulation has the potential to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. The present study aims to assess the effectiveness of a new design of photobiomodulation toothbrush with specific irradiation parameters as a homecare device in treating dentin hypersensitivity and to compare its therapeutic effect with that of fluoride varnish.

Materials and Methods

Thirty patients with gingival recession and dentin hypersensitivity were selected and randomly assigned to three groups of equal size: fluoride varnish, photobiomodulation, and the combination. Dentin pain and hypersensitivity were measured using visual analog scale (VAS) by two distinct tests: the contact test with a periodontal probe and the air blast test on the areas of gingival recession and denuded root; once at baseline and again one month after the initial application of treatments. Laser irradiation was carried out at the wavelength of 660 nm in CW with an output power of 40 mW for 30 seconds per spot (1.2 J per spot, 6 J/cm² energy density, and 200 mW/cm² power density), perpendicularly to denuded root surfaces in non-contact mode.

Results

A significant reduction in dentin pain and hypersensitivity was observed in all three groups. However, the reduction was significantly greater in the combination group.

Conclusion

At-home treatment of dentin hypersensitivity with photobiomodulation toothbrush is a convenient, safe, and effective method for the management of dentin hypersensitivity.