13th World Congress for Laser Dentistry

26-28, April 2012

Barcelona, Spain

Meeting Abstract

Sponsors: World Federation for Laser Dentistry

- Oral Presentation 45

TITLE: Bone Regeneration Therapy Using Low Level Laser Treatment in a Rabbit Model.

AUTHORS: Ricci JL, Murriky A, Bloom MJ, Kye W, Romanos G, Tarnow DP.

New York University College of Dentistry, University of Ro-chester Eastman Institute for Oral Health, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine

SOURCE: Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2012 May 1;17(Supplement1):S45.

* doi:10.4317/medoral.17643544

http://dx.doi.org/10.4317/medoral.17643544

Abstract

Introduction: Low wattage laser use in periodontal therapy is well documented, but effects on bone repair are not understood. We used a low wattage laser to examine the effects of laser treatment on bone healing in a rabbit cranial defect bone-healing model.

Materials and Methods: Bone defects were created in rabbit parietal bones using a trephine in 16 rabbits (5mm in diameter, ½ skull thickness defects), and 4 were created in the two parietal bones of each rabbit. One defect was untreated (control), and the remaining three were treated for 15, 30 and 45 seconds using a Navigator 810 nm diode laser (Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc) with non-initiated tip at 1.0 watts in continuous mode. Defects were evaluated using micro computed tomo-graphy (microCT) and hard tissue histomorphometry at 2 and 4 weeks.

Results: Treatment was observed to increase levels of coagulation at the wound sites. 2-week analysis was inconclusive, but 4-week results were significant. Histomorphometric analysis of the 15, 30, and 45-second treatment groups versus the control group showed a 21% increase in bone formation, which was significant at a p ≤ 0.05 level. Treated sites showed higher osteoblastic activity than untreated sites. Increase in bone formation may be related to stabilize coagulation and lower amounts of wound contracture at treated sites.

Conclusion: Low wattage laser treatment of craniofacial bone defects suggested significant increases in bone formation versus untreated sites.