The effect of photobiomodulation therapy on neurosensory recovery of infra-alveolar nerve following iatrogenic trauma: A literature review.

In recent years, Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), or so-called low-level laser therapy, has gained dental researchers' attention as a promising non-invasive treatment method, which can be implemented for neurosensory recovery of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) following iatrogenic trauma caused by dental procedures, such as orthognathic surgery, implant placement, and molar extractions. This study reviews the findings from clinical studies within the past 10 years evaluating the efficacy of PBMT in these settings. Through assessing varying results, we understood that generally they accelerate nerve healing and improve patient-reported outcomes, such as oral health-related quality of life. The known mechanism of action for low-intensity light sources, typically lasers or LEDs, that are used in PBMT is to enhance cellular metabolism, reduce inflammation, and promote nerve regeneration. The most commonly applied parameters of PBMT in the dental practice are wavelengths between 630 and 1064 nm, energy densities between 3 and 12 J/cm2, and treatment time between 15 and 90 s per point per session. Although its clinical potential is great, the extensive application of PBMT is restricted due to variability in treatment protocols and lack of standardization. This review emphasizes the need for further studies that include longer follow-ups and more consistent protocols, which can optimize the application of PBMT, making it incorporable into routine clinical practice for neurosensory recovery following dental procedures.