Combined laser and magnetic therapy in the prevention of alveolitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread nature of tooth extraction in outpatient dental practice, current postoperative management approaches do not always prevent the development of alveolitis and pronounced inflammatory manifestations. Evidence on the clinical efficacy of combined low-intensity laser therapy and magnetic therapy in the early postoperative period remains limited and is represented by isolated studies with a low level of evidence.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of a physiotherapy regimen consisting of sequential application of low-intensity laser therapy and low-frequency magnetic therapy in adult patients undergoing elective tooth extraction, in comparison with standard pharmacotherapy.

METHODS: An open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 60 patients aged 18–55 years undergoing elective tooth extraction. Participants were allocated to two equal groups: the intervention group (standard therapy plus three sessions of low-intensity laser therapy and low-frequency magnetic therapy) and the control group (standard therapy alone). Outcome measures included the incidence of alveolitis (primary outcome), pain intensity assessed using a visual analogue scale, edema severity measured by linear anthropometry, dynamics of local reparative processes, analgesic consumption, and adverse event recording. Follow-up was performed over 7 days post-surgery.

RESULTS: The incidence of alveolitis was 0% in the intervention group and 13.3% in the control group (p = 0.038). The intervention group demonstrated a significantly faster reduction in pain intensity from day 2 (p < 0.001) and in edema severity from day 3 (p < 0.001) compared with controls. By day 5, granulation tissue formation was observed in 73.3% of patients in the intervention group versus 26.7% in the control group (p < 0.001). Analgesic consumption was 2.5-fold lower in the intervention group (p < 0.001). No adverse events related to the physiotherapy procedures were recorded.

CONCLUSION: The application of this physiotherapy regimen following tooth extraction significantly reduces the risk of alveolitis, alleviates pain and edema, accelerates reparative processes, and decreases medication burden, supporting its clinical efficacy and safety. Trial limitations include the modest sample size and its single-center design.