Evaluation of the effectiveness of diode laser on pain and edema in individuals with cleft lip and palate submitted to secondary bone graft.

OBJECTIVE : To clinically evaluate the effects of diode laser, Gallium-Aluminum-Arsenide laser (GaAlAs), on the pain and edema after secondary alveolar bone graft. DESIGN : Case-control, double-blind study. Setting : Institutional tertiary referral hospital. Participants : The sample was composed of 60 individuals with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate, of both genders, aged 9 to 15 years, submitted to secondary alveolar bone graft. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES : The individuals were divided into an experimental group (patients irradiated with diode laser GaAlAs, energy density of 4 J/cm(2), power of 100 mW, and wavelength in the infrared spectrum, for 10 seconds per point on 10 points, adding up to a dose of 40 J/cm(2)) and a placebo group (simulated laser application for 60 seconds per point, also on 10 points). Applications were made on the receptor site immediately postoperatively and after 24 and 48 hours. The pain and edema were assessed preoperatively and at each application. RESULTS : The two groups presented increase in pain and edema in 24 and 48 hours. No statistically significant difference was found between groups. CONCLUSIONS : According to the present methodology, the use of low-level laser to control the pain and edema in the postoperative period of secondary alveolar bone graft was not effective.