Clinical efficacy, aesthetic discomfort, and quality of life in patients undergoing hemolaser therapy for the treatment of papillary loss: a longitudinal pilot study.

The loss of papillary dimension leads to the formation of black spaces between teeth, compromising both aesthetics and function. Consequently, there is a need for effective techniques to reverse or mitigate this issue. The objective of this pilot study was to longitudinally evaluate the clinical efficacy, aesthetic discomfort, and quality of life of patients undergoing hemolaser therapy (HLT) for papillary regeneration. Twelve consecutive patients were divided into two groups: HLT Group (n = 6), which underwent gentle stimulation of gingival bleeding with a periodontal curette followed by the application of red laser (660 nm), and the Control Group (n = 6), which received only the red laser application (660 nm). The HLT treatment was performed in two sessions with a one-week interval. Results showed a significant reduction in both papillary height (mm) and papillary area (mm²) in the test group at 90 and 180 days (P < 0.05), as well as when compared to the control group over the same periods (P < 0.05). The test group demonstrated an improvement in the Modified Papilla Index (MPI) at 90 and 180 days post-treatment (P < 0.05), with better MPI scores observed in the test group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Lower discomfort perceived by patients was reported through the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and lower impact on the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) in the test group at 180 days post-treatment (P < 0.05), as well as in comparison to the control group (P < 0.05). Based on the results, hemolaser therapy was effective in reducing interdental black spaces in a short follow up period and improvements in patient discomfort and quality of life were seen over time.