Laser-based dental therapy helps ease pain tied to oral health in EB
Most study participants had mucosal lesions in tissues lining the mouth
A laser-based dental therapy called photobiomodulation helps ease pain related to oral damage in people with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a study reports.
Most study participants had mucosal lesions in the tissues lining the mouth, and nearly half had caries, or cavities, among other oral health issues. Mucosal lesions had a significant association with pain. Photobiomodulation reduced pain level for all study participants.
“Those findings stress the importance of oral care for patients with EB and encourage the development of preventive and health-promoting techniques to minimize the need for rehabilitative treatment,” researchers wrote.
The report, “Health challenges and importance of using photobiomodulation therapy in patients with epidermolysis bullosa: a cross-sectional study,” was published in the journal Lasers in Medical Science.
Researchers find significant relationship between oral lesions and pain
In EB, the skin becomes fragile, most often because of a genetic mutation. This leads to symptoms like blistering after only gentle friction, resulting in wounds that can become painful and infected. Blisters can occur inside the mouth, which may make eating difficult and generally reduce quality of life.
Conventional dental procedures and treatments may result in further mucosal damage in the mouths of EB patients. Photobiomodulation, which exposes lesions to low-level laser, may help reduce mucosal lesions in EB patients, according to the scientists. By boosting cellular energy production, the laser treatment safely promotes healing processes, they added.
“For individuals suffering from chronic ulcer-related pain, including patients with EB, photobiomodulation therapy represents a therapeutic option that can significantly improve quality of life,” the researchers wrote.
In addition to investigating the effects of photobiomodulation on pain, the research team described features of general and oral health in 12 participants ages 7 months to 60 years. Two had EB simplex, and the remaining 10 had dystrophic EB.
All but one participant reported being under medical care for lesions related to EB, and 58% said they experienced anxiety. Oral examination showed that seven participants had oral mucosal lesions such as blisters (a bubble of fluid) or ulcers (breaks in the mucous membrane). There was no significant relationship between these issues and participants’ sex or medication history.
We suggest photobiomodulation therapy with a low-level laser as a protocol for all patients with EB, specifically before and after each session of dentistry treatment.
Several had caries. Other oral health symptoms included gum disease, hardened plaque on the teeth, changes in bite, and tooth loss (each present in two participants). One individual was eligible for dental prosthetics.
“Tooth loss and the resulting need for prosthetic rehabilitation present challenges, for conventional removable prostheses frequently cause blister formation due to friction against the mucosa,” the scientists wrote.
There was a statistically significant relationship between oral lesions and pain. All patients experienced less pain after photobiomodulation therapy.
The team noted that the number of participants was small and that future studies would need to establish if photobiomodulation impacts quality of life.
“The incorporation of validated quality-of-life assessment tools and standardized outcome measures to better evaluate the benefits of photobiomodulation therapy in EB patients are important,” the scientists wrote. “Further research should also explore optimal laser parameters for pain relief and wound healing.”
Describing oral symptoms in EB can also be useful for dental care providers, according to the team, as they may lack knowledge of the disease.
“For that reason, we suggest photobiomodulation therapy with a low-level laser as a protocol for all patients with EB, specifically before and after each session of dentistry treatment,” the team concluded.
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