# Low-Level Laser Therapy in the Management of Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

## TL;DR

This review examines whether low-level laser therapy can help treat a bone condition caused by bisphosphonate drugs, finding some benefits but calling for more research.

## Contribution

The study provides a systematic review of LLLT's potential as an adjunct therapy for BRONJ, highlighting its analgesic and regenerative effects.

## Key findings

- LLLT may reduce pain and promote soft tissue healing in BRONJ patients when combined with surgery and drugs.
- Study heterogeneity and small sample sizes limit the generalizability of LLLT's efficacy.
- Randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols are needed to confirm LLLT's effectiveness.

## Abstract

Background: Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (BRONJ) is a severe complication associated with bisphosphonate therapy, commonly used in the treatment of osteoporosis and metastatic bone diseases. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been proposed as a potential treatment modality for BRONJ, with its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and regenerative effects being of particular interest. This systematic review aims to critically assess the current evidence regarding the efficacy of LLLT in the management of BRONJ. Methods: This review was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, was performed to identify relevant studies published up to September 2024. The systematic review protocol has been registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with the number 423003. All studies considered are observational. Studies were included if they investigated the application of LLLT in BRONJ treatment, reporting clinical outcomes such as pain reduction, lesion healing, and quality of life. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and the data were synthesized descriptively. Results: A total of four studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that LLLT, particularly when used in conjunction with surgical debridement and pharmacological therapy, significantly may reduce pain and promote soft tissue healing in patients with BRONJ. However, the heterogeneity of study designs, laser parameters, and outcome measures limits the generalizability of these results. Furthermore, most studies were small-scale, with moderate to high risk of bias. Conclusions: The current evidence suggests that LLLT may be a beneficial adjunctive therapy in the treatment of BRONJ. However, conclusions are limited by the lack of randomized controlled trials and methodological heterogeneity, particularly for pain management and soft tissue regeneration. However, further high-quality randomized controlled trials with standardized laser protocols are necessary to establish its efficacy and optimize clinical application. Therefore, one of the limitations of this literature review with meta-analysis is that only four studies were considered and, moreover, they were observational. The results of the meta-analysis showed that there is not enough evidence to declare a statistical correlation; this result will surely be due to the small number of studies and heterogeneity.