Objective: This randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated the efficacy of 980 nm diode laser therapy as an adjunct to conventional treatment for acute pericoronitis.
Materials and methods: Ninety-two patients with acute pericoronitis were divided into a control group (n = 44) receiving standard treatment and a laser group (n = 48) receiving additional 980 nm diode laser therapy (7.07W/cm2, pulsed wave mode, 30 s/site, once daily for 3 days). Outcomes including Modified Gingival Index (MGI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, maximum mouth opening (MMO), lymphadenopathy, and body temperature were assessed at baseline and day 4 post-treatment.
Results: The laser group exhibited significantly greater reductions in VAS pain scores (5.62 ± 1.71 to 0.92 ± 0.81 vs. 5.59 ± 1.57 to 1.73 ± 2.4; p < 0.05) and MGI scores (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Both groups showed comparable improvements in MMO (p > 0.05). Lymphadenopathy resolved in 58% of laser patients vs. 64% of controls, though not statistically significant(p > 0.05). All patients achieved normalized body temperature by day 4. Stratified reanalysis by type of impacted tooth revealed that the laser-treated mesially impacted group experienced significant improvements in postoperative pain (VAS; p < 0.001) and gingival inflammation (MGI; p = 0.005) in laser-treated Mesial impactions compared to the control group.
Conclusion: Adjunctive 980 nm diode laser therapy significantly enhances pain relief and reduces gingival inflammation in acute pericoronitis compared to conventional treatment alone, supporting its role as a non-invasive therapeutic adjunct.
Keywords: Acute pericoronitis; Diode laser; Modified Gingival Index; Photobiomodulation; Visual Analog Scale.
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