Photobiomodulation of gingival lesions resulting from autoimmune diseases: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) in gingival lesions resulting from autoimmune diseases; to compare PBM and topical corticosteroid (CS) treatment; and to assess PBM outcome over time of follow-up. Materials and methods: A comprehensive electronic search was performed in four electronic databases. Treatment effects were measured through visual analog scale of pain (VAS) and clinical evolution of lesion (Thongprasom scale for oral lichen planus (OLP)). Meta-analysis was performed to compare PBM with topical corticosteroid treatment and to evaluate PBM effect over time of follow-up. Results: Seventeen studies were included in this review, of which six were used for the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis results showed no significant differences between PBM and topical CS in pain reduction at baseline (MD = 0.20, 95% CI = − 0.92, 1.32, p = 0.72) and 60-day follow-up (MD = 0.63, 95% CI = − 3.93, 5.19, p = 0.79); however, VAS showed significant pain reduction when compared before and after PBM at 30-day (MD = − 3.52, 95% CI = − 5.40, − 1.64, p = 0.0002) and 60-day (MD = − 5.04, 95% CI = − 5.86, − 4.22, p < 0.00001) follow-up. Thongprasom clinical scale for OLP also showed significant improvement at 30-day follow-up (MD = − 2.50, 95% CI = − 2.92, − 2.08, p < 0.00001) after PBM. Conclusion: PBM led to significant reduction of pain and clinical scores of the lesions, not having shown significant differences when compared to topical CS. Clinical relevance: PBM has been used in the treatment of autoimmune gingival lesions, but so far there is little strong evidence to support its use.