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Figure 5: Traumatic
lesion of upper
lip (arrow). Note
the bite defect
indenting the tissue.
Patient complained
of pain.
❚❙❘ Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Andent, Inc., for permission to
reprint the photos contained in this article.
To contact Dr. Ellis Neiburger, call 847-244-0292 or
visit www.drneiburger.com.
❚❙❘ References
1. Pinheiro, A., Cavalcanti, E. et al. Low-level laser
therapy in the management of disorders of the
maxillofacial region. J. Clin Laser Med Surg.
1997;15(4):181-183.
2. Neiburger, E. Rapid healing of gingival incisions
by the Helium Neon diode laser. J. Mass Dent
Soc.1999 Spring;48(1):8-13,40.
Figure 6: Lip lesion
(Fig. 5) showing
epithelization,
filled-in defect and
demonstrating no
pain two days after
a single 30-second
laser treatment.
because Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) clearance has remained
in the off-label arena and few, if any,
commercial firms are willing to do
the expensive testing needed to get
FDA approval (est. cost: $250,000+).
If a prospective firm wanted to market
its laser product it would reflect
the costs of testing, insurance and
regulation, and could not compete
economically with equivalent lasers
purchased at dollar store prices. Why
would the clinician pay several hundred
dollars for a commercially FDA
approved low-level laser when one
of identical qualities would be available
in retail outlets for $1? Thus, we
have no commercial low-level lasers
available except in cases where high
wattage, expensive dental lasers are
used at powered-down fluences. 1,4,6
Unlike more powerful laser systems
(>5mw), normal LLL exposure is
safe and does not require any safety
equipment for staff or patient. Brief
exposures to the retina and other organs
have no record of producing serious
injury, though long periods of
exposure to the eyes (5+ seconds) can
be irritating. 3,5 Excessive exposure of
lesions to LLL will not increase healing,
but may retard the rapid healing
effects of optimal exposure (e.g., 30
seconds). 1-6
Low-level laser treatment is easy to
do, safe, low cost per treatment (laser
& batteries), painless and effective.
Patients who have continuous
oral sore problems may be advised
to treat their own lesions using their
own lasers under proper supervision
(e.g., periodic exams). This treatment
can reduce much pain and cost over
a patient’s lifetime. All practitioners
should use low-level lasers.
❚❙❘ Summary
This study demonstrated that lowlevel
laser therapy using a red laser
pointer significantly reduced pain
and increased the rate of healing in
a variety of commonly experienced
intraoral lesions. The ease of use and
insignificant expense of this effective
therapeutic device suggests that all
practitioners become “laser dentists”
and provide this mode of treatment
to their patients.
3. Casigila, J. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis: etiology,
diagnosis and treatment. Gen Dentistry 2002
Mar:157-165.
4. Amorim, J.,de Sousa, G. et al. Clinical study of
the gingival healing after gingivectomy and lowlevel
laser therapy. Photomed Laser Surg. 2006
Oct;24(5):588-594.
5. Lask, G., Lowe, N. Lasers in Cutaneous and
Cosmetic Surgery. 2000. Churchill Livingstone,
Pa.:17-18.
6. Ozcelik, O., Haytac, C. et al. Improved wound
healing by low-level laser irradiation after gingivectomy
operations. J. Clin Periodontology 2008
Mar;35(3):250-254.
7. Sciubba, J. Herpies simplex and aphthus
ulcerations:presentation, diagnosis and management-an
update. Gen Dent 2003 Nov:510-516.
8. Scully, C., Porter, S. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis:
current concepts of etiology, pathogenesis
and management. J.Oral Path Med 1989
Jan;18(1):21-27.
Copyright ©2009 Ellis Neiburger. All rights reserved.
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