SynthesisLasers in medical science2025
Laser therapy versus placebo treatment for aphthous ulcers: a systematic review and meta‑analysis.
Synthesis in Lasers in medical science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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
4 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Comparison of photobiomodulation therapy with conventional treatment in patients with herpes labialis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Lasers in medical science · 2025Pooled it
- Comparative Efficacy of Thermal Ablation and Surgical Resection in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of gastrointestinal cancer · 2025Pooled it
- Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of grade B periodontitis: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Lasers in medical science · 2025Pooled it
- Solubility-Enhanced α‑Mangostin Bilayer Films: Synergizing Mucoadhesion and Protection for Effective Aphthous Ulcer Treatment.ACS omega · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAphthous ulcer is a common, painful oral mucosal condition. Laser therapy for these ulcers offers potential benefits in pain relief and mucosal healing. However, its clinical utility remains to be systematically evaluated.
methodsA systematic search was performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2020 and 2025, examining the efficacy of laser therapy in patients with aphthous ulcers. Five databases were searched, and data on pain intensity, healing time, and ulcer size were extracted and synthesized. Mean differences (MDs) in tandem with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.
resultsFourteen RCTs involving 517 participants were included. Laser therapy significantly reduced pain intensity compared to placebo (MD, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.52 to 5.09; p < 0.001) and was associated with a shorter healing time (MD, - 5.86 days; 95% CI, - 9.47 to - 2.26; p < 0.001). Changes in ulcer size were not significant (MD, - 0.87 mm; 95% CI, - 3.53 to 1.78; p = 0.52). Heterogeneity was substantial across all outcomes (I² > 89%), reflecting variability in study designs, patient characteristics, and laser parameters.
conclusionsLaser therapy provides significant reductions in pain and healing time in patients with aphthous ulcers, supporting its role as a promising adjunctive treatment. The high heterogeneity among trials underscores the need for standardized protocols and further high-quality research to define optimal treatment parameters.
Indexed as
Identifiers
40560435What OpenQuestion holds
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.