ArticleThe Japanese dental science review2024
Effects of phototherapy in patients with idiopathic facial palsy: Scoping review.
Article in The Japanese dental science review, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Bell's palsy and dental procedures: A cross-sectional study.Bioinformation · 2026Article
- Facial nerve pathology: emerging strategies for regeneration and functional restoration.Journal of materials chemistry. B · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Phototherapy has emerged as a promising treatment for Bell's palsy, offering potential improvements in facial nerve function and overall well-being. In this study, we selected seven relevant studies involving 306 patients with subacute or acute Bell's palsy from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus before June 5, 2024. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) efficacy for facial nerve paralysis was assessed in seven studies. Two studies lacked standard deviation data, precluding meta-analysis. Sunnybrook scores favored LLLT (mean difference [MD] = 17.42, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 4.00-30.84, p = 0.011). However, Facial Disability Index results showed no significant difference (MD = 12.16, 95 % CI: -0.60 to 24.92, p = 0.061) between LLLT and control. LLLT, particularly with wavelengths of 830 or 850 nm administered over 6 weeks, may lead to beneficial outcomes. Combining LLLT with exercise therapy appears to be effective．LLLT demonstrates promise as a management option for Bell's palsy, potentially offering advantages over other treatments, particularly in patients with comorbidities, such as diabetes. Phototherapy devices currently used in Japan offer non-invasive treatment with minimal patient burden. The safety and therapeutic efficacy of these devices have been confirmed as a potential treatment for facial nerve paralysis.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.