Abstract

Background: Mandibular third molar extraction is among the most frequently performed oral surgical procedures and is commonly associated with postoperative sequelae including pain, facial swelling, and trismus. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has gained increasing interest as an adjunctive modality due to its photobiomodulatory effects on tissue repair and inflammation. Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of 810 nm and 660 nm diode laser therapy in reducing postoperative pain, facial swelling, and trismus following impacted mandibular third molar extraction. Methods: A prospective, randomized, single-blind, split-mouth clinical trial was conducted on 33 patients with bilaterally symmetrical impacted mandibular third molars. Each patient’s molars were randomly assigned to Group 1 (810 nm: GaAlAs diode laser, Picasso Lite+, AMD Lasers, USA; 0.5 W, 27.5 J/cm2, 6 points, 22 s/ point) or Group 2 (660 nm: GaAlAs diode laser, SIROLaser Blue, Dentsply Sirona, USA; 0.1 W, 3 J/cm2, 2 points, 60 s/point). Pain was assessed daily via 100-mm VAS for 7 days; facial swelling and trismus were evaluated on days 1, 2, and 7; patient satisfaction was measured using a 5-point Likert scale. Results: No statistically significant differences in VAS scores, facial swelling, or trismus were observed 68 TẠP CHÍ Y DƯỢC HUẾ - HUE JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY ISSN 3030-4318; eISSN: 3030-4326 between groups at any time point (p > 0.05). VAS scores reached 0 by day 5 in both groups. Patient satisfaction with the laser treatment procedure was significantly higher in the 660 nm group (4.64 ± 0.49 vs. 4.33 ± 0.48; p < 0.05), while overall surgical outcome satisfaction was comparable (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, 810 nm and 660 nm diode laser therapies demonstrated comparable clinical effectiveness in reducing postoperative sequelae. However, the 660 nm diode laser yielded significantly higher patient satisfaction with the treatment procedure, attributed to fewer irradiation points and reduced mouth-opening demands. These findings suggest that 660 nm diode laser may be the preferred clinical option.