The Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy on the Healing of Soft Tissue Graft Donor and Recipient Sites: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Keratinized gingiva is crucial for periodontal health, and insufficient width can cause gingival recession. Free gingival graft (FGG) and connective tissue graft (CTG) commonly address this issue. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been suggested to enhance wound healing and reduce complications after graft surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 810-nm diode laser therapy on bleeding, pain, and epithelialization at donor and recipient sites over four weeks. Materials and Methods: In this double-blinded randomized clinical trial, 40 patients (20 in each group) who underwent FGG or CGT surgery were assigned to either the laser or control group. In the laser group, LLLT using a 660-nm diode laser with a power output of 40 mW was applied to the donor and recipient sites immediately after surgery and at 24 h, 3 days, and 7 days post-surgery. Bleeding, pain levels, and epithelialization were assessed weekly for four weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. T-tests, Chi-square tests, and Fisher's exact were used with a significance level 0.05. Results: No bleeding occurred at the donor or recipient sites, and pain levels were similar between the laser and control groups throughout the study. Epithelialization showed no significant differences in the first two weeks and the fourth week in both groups. By week three, the laser group had significantly more epithelialization at the donor site ( Conclusion: LLLT accelerated epithelialization at the donor site; however, the results were reversed at the recipient site. Furthermore, laser treatment did not significantly affect pain levels at either site. These findings suggest that LLLT may benefit certain aspects of soft tissue healing after graft surgery.