Analgesic and OHRQoL Outcomes of 650 nm vs 810 nm Diode Laser Photobiomodulation After Dental Implant Placement: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a promising non-pharmacological approach for managing postoperative pain after dental im-plant placement, yet comparative data on red (650 nm) and near-infrared (810 nm) diode lasers remain limited and inconclu-sive. This double-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluated the short-term analgesic efficacy of 650 nm and 810 nm PBMon postoperative pain, analgesic intake, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) following single-implant placementin the posterior maxilla. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to receive PBM with 650 nm, PBM with 810 nm, or a shamcontrol. Laser therapy (18 J total energy) was administered immediately postoperatively and again at 48 hours. Pain intensity(11-point Numeric Rating Scale) and analgesic use were recorded at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-surgery. OHRQoLwas assessed using the OHIP-14 questionnaire at baseline, one week, and after crown delivery. At 2 hours, both PBM groupsreported significantly lower pain scores compared to the sham group (p < 0.05), with no severe pain observed in the PBMgroups. The 650 nm group exhibited significantly reduced analgesic consumption at 2 and 6 hours (p < 0.05), indicating supe-rior early analgesic effect. Pain scores and medication use converged across groups after 12 hours. While overall OHRQoLscores did not differ significantly, the 810 nm group showed improvement in the physical disability domain. These resultssuggest that PBM with both wavelengths alleviates acute postoperative pain, with the 650 nm laser offering enhanced short-term pain control. PBM, particularly at 650 nm, may serve as an effective adjunct to improve early postoperative outcomes inminimally invasive implant procedures. Trial registration: The study is retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06988722; Identifier: NCT06988722, registered on 25/05/2025).