Effect of LLLT on Periodontal Obese Patients

Objectives: Periodontitis has been reported to relate to metabolic syndrome traits such as obesity, blood pressure, diabetes. The aim of this study is to assess the histological effectiveness of a low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with respect to the acceleration of bone regeneration after surgical treatment of intrabony defects of patients with morbid obesity
Methods: Twelve patients with intrabony defects, aged between 30-55 with morbid obesity, non-smokers, were randomly divided in two groups. Each patient had at last one periodontal defect treated by bone allograft. The test group received a postsurgical treatment with LLLT. The equipment used was OsseoPulse AM300 (extra oral light emitting diode), at an intensity of 20mW/cm² for 20 minutes per day for 21 consecutive days. The control group received no treatment with LLLT. The bone formation was evaluated in both groups at baseline and 6 months postoperative by the means of a biopsy of tissue followed by a histological analysis.
Results: The histological study of the control sample harvested 6 months postoperative showed of irregular fragments of bone in loose fibrous connective tissue. The diagnosis of this tissue sample is evaluated to be a vital lamellar bone with chronic inflammation of the narrow spaces.
The histological study of the test sample at 6 months after regeneration showed bone formation without inflammatory cells and occasional nonviable bone consistent with regenerating bone. No evidence of the grafted material is present.
Conclusions: With all the limitations regarding the number of patients and the follow up period, the histological analysis showed that the intrabony defects regenerated by bone allograft and treated with LLLT produces more significantly bone that the non-treated defects. Histological study suggests that in 6 months there is new bone formation in the defects treated with LLLT.