SynthesisLasers in medical science2025
The role of photobiomodulation in minimizing pain during dental injections in adults and children: 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 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Low-level laser therapy in oral surgery: how strong is the evidence for improved postoperative outcomes?Evidence-based dentistry · 2026Pooled it
- Comparing the effect of photobiostimulation, pressure and topical anesthetic gel on reducing pain during maxillary infiltration injection: a clinical trial study.BMC oral health · 2026Trial
- A Translational Review of Mechanisms of Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation on Somatosensory Neurons and the Peripheral Nervous System-From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Applications in Medicine and Dentistry.Current issues in molecular biology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of laser-based photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in reducing pain associated with dental injections. The review addresses the research question: "What is the effect of PBMT on pain levels during local anesthetic injections in dental patients compared to control interventions?". A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Studies included were prospective or retrospective clinical trials involving PBMT for pain control during dental injections. The quality of studies was assessed using the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Data were extracted on patient demographics, laser parameters, and pain outcomes. A total of 14 studies were included in this systematic review, with 6 focusing on children and 8 on adults. In children, three studies indicated that PBMT effectively reduced pain, with a significant difference according to the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WFPRS) but not on the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) scale. Conversely, three studies found no significant differences between PBMT and topical anesthesia. In adults, five studies demonstrated a pain-reducing effect of PBMT, though one study reported a statistically significant difference that did not achieve clinical significance. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant overall effect of PBMT on pain reduction in both children and adults (p < 0.05). This systematic review of the literature suggests that PBMT may help reduce discomfort associated with dental injections in both adults and children. Nonetheless, further investigation is warranted to arrive at a more definitive conclusion on this topic.
Indexed as
Identifiers
40668432What 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.