THE CURRENT STATUS OF LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY IN DENTISTRY .1. SOFT-TISSUE APPLICATIONS

Despite more than 30 years of experience with low level laser therapy (LLLT) or 'biostimulation' in dentistry, concerns remain as to its eff ectiveness as a treatment modality. Controlled clinical studies have d emonstrated that while LLLT is effective for some specific application s, it is not a panacea. This paper provides an outline of the biologic al basis of LLLT and summarizes the findings of controlled clinical st udies of the use of LLLT for specific soft tissue applications in dent istry. Areas of controversy where there is a pressing need for further research are identified.