Lasers a boon to the treatment of radiation and chemotherapy induced mucositis – A review Dr Singh Richa, PG Student, Dr Vengal Manoj, Prof and Head Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vyas Dental College and Hospital, Jodhpur. Address for Correspondence: Dr Richa Singh, PG Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vyas Dental College and Hospital, Kudi Hod, Pali Road, Jodhpur. Mob: 08946871034. Email: richasingh01986@gmail.com
Online published on 3 January, 2013. Abstract Oral complication of cancer therapy is varied and bears a high morbidity. Oral mucositis is a common complication of antineoplastic therapy, causing therapeutic modification due to patient‘s debilitation, which often interferes with the prognosis of disease. It causes severe soreness and pain in the oral cavity and makes swallowing and speech very difficult. Many agents have been tested for prevention and treatment of mucositis but none have showed optimal symptom, relief and reduction in intensity or duration of lesion. Low level laser has been found to be well tolerated and showed beneficial effects on the management of oral mucositis. It has proven beneficial, permitting that more patients can complete radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment with no major intercurrences. The use of laser phototherapy avoids the need of parenteral feeding in advanced mucositis. Laser phototherapy has been proven a safe and effective method for treatment oral mucositis. Top Keywords Oral mucositis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, Low level laser therapy, anti-inflammatory effects, analgesic effects, biostimulation. Top |