Adjunctive low-level laser therapy improves gingival inflammatory clinical indices, thermographic findings, and systemic cytokines in cats with American Veterinary Dental College stage 1 to 2 periodontal disease.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT), alone or with chlorhexidine (CLX; CLX + LLLT), improves clinical indices of gingival inflammation, gingival temperature, and systemic cytokines compared with CLX alone in cats with early-stage periodontal disease (American Veterinary Dental College stage 1 to 2).

METHODS

Cats diagnosed with American Veterinary Dental College stage 1 to 2 periodontal disease were randomized to 3 groups (CLX, LLLT, and CLX + LLLT; n = 7/group) after full-mouth scaling. Treatments were CLX spray, intraoral 905-nm gallium arsenide LLLT, or both for 7 days. Primary outcomes included probing pocket depth, gingival index, plaque index, and gingival surface temperature. Plasma tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were secondary outcomes. Thermography and blood sampling were also performed on days 0 and 8.

RESULTS

Mean probing pocket depth decreased by 0.27 mm in CLX, 1.24 mm in LLLT, and 1.20 mm in CLX + LLLT. Gingival index and plaque index declined in all groups, with larger reductions in LLLT-treated cats. Gingival temperature decreased in LLLT (-3.1 °C) and CLX + LLLT (-4.3 °C). Tumor necrosis factor-α decreased in CLX + LLLT (-7.4 ng/L). Interleukin-6 decreased only in CLX + LLLT, and IL-1β changes were negligible.

CONCLUSIONS

LLLT, particularly with CLX, produced greater improvements in gingival inflammatory indices, gingival temperature, and inflammatory markers than CLX alone.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: LLLT appears to be a safe and effective adjunct for the short-term management of gingival inflammation in cats with early-stage periodontal disease following professional dental cleaning.