Low-Level Laser Therapy and Topical Medications for Treating Aphthous Ulcers: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Mohammed Khaleel Ahmed,1 Mohammed Jafer,2 Maryam Nayeem,3 Ibtisam Hussain Moafa,4 Mir Furruq Ali Quadri,5 Hema Gopalaiah,1 Mir Faeq Ali Quadri2 1Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, M.N.R Dental College, India; 2Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia; 4Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, the Netherlands; 5Department of Internal Medicine, Lister Hospital, East and North Hertfordshire, NHS Trust, Stevenage, UKCorrespondence: Mir Faeq Ali QuadriDepartment of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, PO Box: 114, Jazan 45142, Saudi ArabiaTel [phone]Email [email protected]: The study compares low-level laser therapy with topical medications for treating aphthous ulcers.Methods: A search of articles in this systematic review was completed in six databases. Treatment and comparative groups comprised of patients subjected to laser therapy and topical medications, respectively. Two different treatment outcomes were considered; pain and size of the lesion. Risk of bias was assessed using the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials.Results: From 109 articles, five randomized control trials fulfilled the selection criteria. The overall sample comprised of 98 males and 232 females, with a mean age of 32.4 years. The laser therapies in each included study had different active media and varying wavelengths. Topical medication used in the comparative group were triamcinolone acetonide, amlexanox, granofurin, and solcoseryl. Findings showed that patients who reported lower pain and decreased aphthous ulcer lesions were more in the laser therapy group than in the topical medication group.Conclusion: Low-level laser therapy was better in treating aphthous ulcer lesions in comparison to topical medications, and all laser wavelengths in the included reports were seen to be effective. However, the results should be interpreted with caution, because no study demonstrated low-risk of bias in all the assessed domains.Keywords: aphthous ulcer, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, low-level laser therapy, systematic review, evidence-based practice

Keywords

• aphthous ulcer
• recurrent aphthous stomatitis
• low-level laser therapy
• systematic review
• evidence based practice