Effect of Photobiomodulation to Reduce Post-operative Pain After Endodontic Surgery: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Photobiomodulation (FBM) has shown favorable results in the postoperative period of endodontic surgery, however, up to now, the level of evidence in this procedure is low. The objective of this study will be to evaluate if photobiomodulation (FBM) can reduce postoperative pain in patients who will undergo endodontic surgery. For this randomized, controlled, and double-blind clinical study, 34 Uruguayan participants of both sexes who previously consulted at the Clínica Universitaria de la Salud, with a diagnosis of periodontitis with an apical lesion less than 10mm with or without a fistula, diagnosed clinically and radiographically, in the upper maxillary region (from 15 to 25) will be recruited. Participants included in the study must have periapical lesions who have already undergone endodontic treatment (lesions smaller than 10mm in their greatest diameter - Metin et al., 2018, single and chronic lesions), no comorbidities, age from 18 to 70 years, both genders, healthy permanent teeth with good hygiene. Participants will be excluded if they are taking drugs that affect bone metabolism and the inflammatory process (for example corticosteroids, bisphosphonates), Smokers, pregnant or lactating women, if used anti-inflammatory drugs in the last 3 months before surgery, who do not follow the guidelines or have an injury in the acute phase (pain, edema, exudate). They will be randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 17) photobiomodulation (808nm, 100 mW, and 4J/cm2 with 5 points per vestibular). Applications will be made in the immediate postoperative period and 24 hours after surgery. Control group (n = 17) FBM simulation will be performed in the same way as in the experimental group. In this group, the required analgesia will be administered within the standard with ibuprofen. Both groups will perform the necessary conventional procedures considered the gold standard in the literature. Both the patient and the evaluator will be blinded to the intervention performed. The primary outcome variable of the study will be postoperative pain, which will be assessed using the visual analog scale at all postoperative control visits (baseline, 24 hours, and 7 days). As for the secondary outcome variables, the amount of systemic medication received according to the patient's need (will be provided by the investigator). Radiographic images will be obtained after 1 and 3 months for evaluation of the repair (dimensions of the lesion, radiopacity). These radiographs will be taken digitally with the positioners implemented. Edema, ecchymosis, and evaluation of soft tissues in the anterior portion of the intra and extra-oral maxilla will also be evaluated. In addition, the temperature with a digital thermometer. These parameters will be evaluated 24 hours and 7 days after the intervention. The X-rays will be taken in the 1st and 3rd months, respectively. Once all the data have been collected, their normality will be tested, and the one-way ANOVA test and the complementary Tukey test will be carried out. Data will be presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and the accepted p-value will be <0.0