The effect of preoperative low-level laser therapy on pain, swelling, and trismus associated with mandibular third molar extraction.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) applied before mandibular third molar extractions on postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus.
Materials and Methods: The study included 28 patients aged 18-45 years with bilaterally impacted mandibular third molars in similar positions, indicated for extraction based on clinical and radiographic examinations. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 received LLLT 10 min before surgery, while Group 2 (control group) underwent routine impacted tooth extraction after applying blue LED light. Measurements were taken preoperatively and at 24 h (T0), 48 h (T1), and 7 days (T2) postoperatively to assess the effects of LLLT on pain, swelling, and trismus. Statistical analysis was performed using the Jamovi 2.2.5 software. Due to the non-normal data distribution, the Friedman test was used for repeated measures within groups, while the Mann-Whitney U test was employed to compare the laser and control groups.
Results: The study included 23 female (82.14%) and 5 male (17.86%) patients, with a mean age of 21.34 ± 4.37 years. No statistically significant differences were observed between the laser and control groups concerning pain, trismus, and swelling at T0, T1, and T2 (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, preoperative LLLT showed clinically acceptable effects on postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus. Further clinical studies are needed to evaluate the long-term success of LLLT.
Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, with the decision dated 20.07.2022 (2022/05) and by the Turkish Ministry of Health, Medical Device and Drug Authority, with approval number 68869993-511.06-835580. The study was conducted in compliance with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Both written and oral informed consents were obtained from the patients and their legal guardians. Consent for publication: Informed consent from all subjects for publication of identifying information/ in an online open-access publication has been obtained. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
(© 2025. The Author(s).)