In addition to conventional dental treatment modalities in treating head and neck cancer patients that have undergone radiation and chemotherapy examination, we have incorporated the latest therapeutic technologies such as Low-Level Laser Therapy or LLLT, now known as Photobiomodulation (PBM) when treating dental oncology patients.
Dry mouth, ulceration, mucositis, and bad taste are frequent symptoms for patients that are going through radiation and chemotherapy
Our Oncology Dental Team is the only center on the west coast that uses Photobiomodulation with the cold tissue laser technology. We have great success stories and we are helping patients that are going through radiation and chemotherapy. Their symptoms of xerostomia and mouth pain are reduced significantly by using new treatment clinical protocols with this unique technology.
The effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy (previously known as Low Level Laser Therapy or LLLT) on oral mucositis has been well documented and reported in 32 clinical trials.
These include patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in both children and adults. These studies don’t only show therapeutic (treating symptoms) benefits, but some clinical trials have shown that treatment concurrent with cancer therapies can be preventive.
Photobiomodulation has been very useful in dental treatments of our patients that show signs and symptoms of:
- Oral mucositis
- Hyposalivation and xerostomia
- Lymphoedema
Other clinical applications that show promise for being treated with Low Level Laser Therapy include:
- Radiation dermatitis
- BRONJ
- Dysphagia
- Trismus
- Fibrosis
- Pain control
Low Level Laser Therapy in Dentistry can be very successful in treating musculoskeletal pain symptoms. There is growing evidence that LLLT works well on a range of oral pathologies and is beneficial for orthodontic procedures and orofacial pain syndromes.
These include improvements in:
- Tooth movement
- Osseointegration of implants
- Post extraction pain
- Paresthesia
- TMJ Dysfunction
- Dentine Hypersensitivity
- Trismus
- Herpes simplex
- Bone density
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Aphthous ulcers
- Tonsillitis
- Periodontal disease
- Bells Palsy
- Osteonecrosis
LLLT can also reduce the use of anesthesia for children or be used to reduce the local discomfort of injections.
