Nd:YAG laser to improve gum healing after tooth extraction and ridge preservation
Impact of Nd: YAG Laser Photobiostimulation on Healing of Gingiva Following Tooth Extraction and Alveolar Ridge Preservation
This test tries whether multiple Nd:YAG low-level laser sessions after tooth extraction and alveolar ridge preservation help adults heal faster and have less pain.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 39 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Medical University of South Carolina Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Charleston, South Carolina) |
| Trial ID | NCT07095556 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults scheduled for tooth extraction and alveolar ridge preservation will receive either standard care or standard care plus Nd:YAG photobiostimulation applied on days 1, 3, and 7 after the procedure. Investigators will follow healing by measuring salivary biomarkers, gingival wound size, reported pain medication use, and patient satisfaction. The intervention uses low-level laser therapy intended to reduce inflammation and stimulate cellular repair in the socket and surrounding gingiva. The trial is conducted at the MUSC College of Dental Medicine Graduate Periodontics Clinic in Charleston, South Carolina.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (≥18) scheduled for tooth extraction and alveolar ridge preservation who can report pain and have no contraindications such as active infection, untreated periodontal disease, recent antibiotic use, pregnancy, lactation, bisphosphonate therapy, or intraoperative alveolar bone defects.
Not a fit: Patients with active dental infection, untreated periodontal disease, recent antibiotics, bisphosphonate use, detected alveolar bone defects, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding are unlikely to qualify or benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the laser could speed gingival healing, reduce post-operative pain, and improve comfort and readiness for implant placement.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies of low-level laser therapy in oral wound healing have shown promising but mixed results, so the approach is suggestive but not yet definitively proven.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants who are ≥ 18 years old, * Patients who are scheduled for the treatment of tooth extraction and alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) * No contraindications for tooth extraction and alveolar ridge preservation based on electronic health records. * Participants who can express the level of pain * Participants who self-report "not pregnant" Exclusion Criteria: * Untreated periodontal disease * Acute infection of the teeth * Use of antibiotics within the last three months. * Pregnant or lactating women * Use of bisphosphonates based on EHR * Alveolar bone defects occurred or were detected during tooth extraction
Where this trial is running
Charleston, South Carolina
- MUSC College of Dental Medicine, Graduate Periodontics Clinic — Charleston, South Carolina, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Pinar Emecen-Huja — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Pinar Emecen-Huja
- Email: emecenh@musc.edu
- Phone: (843) 792-5688
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.