Veterinary Dental Photobiomodulation: Assessing Post-Treatment Gingival Inflammation in Canines.

Objective: This research aims to determine the effect photobiomodulation treatment has on oral inflammation after routine dental prophylaxis in canines. Background: Photobiomodulation therapy after dental procedures has been documented to reduce inflammation in human and animal models. Methods: Canines were randomly assigned into three groups: control group (CG; n = 15), left side treated group (LTG; n = 15), and right side treated group (RTG; n = 15). The canines in the treatment groups received four points of irradiation [GaAlInP-650 nm, continuous wave (CW), 0.1 W, 0.2 W/cm2, 100 sec, 10 J, 20 J/cm2]. The gingiva was evaluated by a veterinary investigator blinded to the treatment groups for erythema and edema on the day following treatment. Student's t-test and Student's paired t-test were used for data analysis. Results: Reductions in composite inflammation (p = 0.008) and erythema (p = 0.030) were observed in the LTG relative to the CG at the location of the left dental arcade. Reductions in composite inflammation (p = 0.025) and erythema (p = 0.013) were also observed in the combined treated arcades of the LTG and RTG when compared to the CG. Conclusions: The results indicate that the canines who received a single photobiomodulation treatment on the left dental arcade demonstrated a decrease in inflammation and erythema.