Abstract
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of
photobiomodulation (PBM) on pain control during pterygomandibular
puncture. A patient received anesthesia on both sides of the mouth in a
randomized manner. On the right side, an 808nm infrared low-level laser
was applied before local anesthesia. On the left side, a sham laser was
applied using the same technique. There was a 50% reduction in pain
levels on the PBM-treated side compared to the sham PBM side, as
measured by the visual analog scale. Sensitivity tests revealed that
anesthesia was more effective on the PBM side. There was no significant
difference in blood pressure before and after anesthesia on either side.
While these findings are based on a single case report, they suggest
that photobiomodulation before anesthesia may alleviate puncture pain
associated with anesthesia. Nevertheless, further well-designed clinical
trials are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of this complementary
therapy.