Use of 1064 nm Nd:YAG Laser Biostimulation for Immediate Reversal of a Long‐Standing Paresthesia of the Superior Labial Branch of the Infraorbital Nerve Following a Root Coverage Procedure: A Case Report.

Introduction: Paresthesia is a common cause of dental malpractice litigation. Symptoms range from minimal to severely affecting the quality of life. Effective treatments of post‐traumatic paresthesias are scarce. This case report documents the first reported use of laser biostimulation to reverse a long‐standing paresthesia of the infraorbital nerve, resulting from a root coverage procedure of the maxillary right canine. Case presentation: A coronally repositioned flap with enamel matrix derivative was used to treat gingival recession on the buccal surface of tooth #6 of a 35‐year‐old Caucasian female. One week later the patient reported lip numbness. The patient declined further treatment, and the paresthesia remained unchanged for the next 13 months. The patient then consented to laser biostimulation with a 1064 nm neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser. A single laser biostimulation treatment resulted in an immediate and dramatic improvement of lip sensation. The patient's symptoms improved over the next 2½ years without further treatment. Conclusion: The cause of the paresthesia and the exact mechanism of its reversal remain unknown, although speculated causes and the possible mechanisms of action of low‐level laser therapy are discussed. Laser biostimulation for treatment of peripheral nerve injury is noninvasive and may eliminate the need for corticosteroids or other more invasive treatment modalities. It may not be effective in all paresthesia cases, but when used properly, laser therapy offers a safe treatment alternative for an often troubling problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]