Evaluation of the analgesic effect of the low intensity laser in patients with acute pulpits: randomized study, double-blinded

• Grant number: 12/21670-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Carlos de Paula Eduardo
• Grantee: Lárissa Marcondes Paladini de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Anxiety, pain, anguish, and discomfort are common stressful situations that occur daily during the odontology practice, especially the endodontic practice. Studies have concluded that low-intensity laser therapy is effective in treating pain. However, most studies have reported the low-intensity laser therapy in chronic pain, few studies have shown its application on acute pain and none have evaluated the low-intensity laser´s analgesic effect in acute pain of the pulp inflammation. Since the pulp tissue has the peculiar characteristic to be surrounded by dentin, in acute pulpits, the inflammatory reaction is more complicated than usual. Furthermore, during the inflammatory process, the pH´s tissue decreases, and anesthesia is not always completely effective. Thus, this present study aims to evaluate whether previous therapy with a low-intensity laser could, by its analgesic effect, promote greater comfort especially to this type of patient. 60 patients with acute pulpits pain will be selected to this study (randomized and double-blinded) and they will be divided in 4 groups: Group 1 ( n=15) - Control Group; Group 2 (n=15) - Laser 1 (780nm; 40mW; 4J/cm2; 4 seconds per point; 0.16J/point; total irradiated points: 02, 1W/cm2); Group 3 (n=15) - Laser 2 (780nm; 40mW; 40J/cm2; 40 seconds per point; 1.6J/point, total irradiated points: 02; 1W/cm2); Group 4 (n=15) - Placebo group. The pain will be evaluated by a visual analog scale (VAS) at 4 different times: initial pain, pain immediately after and 15 minutes after laser and maximum pain reported during conventional endodontic treatment (T0, T1, T2 e T3). Data of different groups and times will be statistically compared, and the statistic test will be chosen according to the evaluation of the normal data obtained.(AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RAMALHO, KAREN MULLER; PALADINI DE SOUZA, LARISSA MARCONDES; TORTAMANO, ISABEL PEIXOTO; ADDE, CARLOS ALBERTO; ROCHA, RODNEY GARCIA; EDUARDO, CARLOS DE PAULA. A randomized placebo-blind study of the effect of low power laser on pain caused by irreversible pulpitis. Lasers in Medical Science, v. 31, n. 9, p. 1899-1905, DEC 2016. (12/21670-1, 13/12317-9)