Table 3 Summary of key characteristics of included studies.
Treatment type | Study | Laser group | Control group | Sample | Arch type | Tooth type Laser group | Tooth type Control group | Age (Mean / Range) | Instrument to document post-op pain | Anesthetic solution | Medication | Number of visits | Method of instrumentation | Working length / limit of instrumentation | Irrigants used | Obturation used in both groups | Occurrence of Sealer/obturation material extrusion | Operator experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RCT | Alves-Silva (2022) | PDT | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) Ultrasonic activation | 60 | Laser Group Maxilla: 28 Mandible: 2 Control Group Maxilla: 30 Mandible: 0 | Incisor: 21 Canine: 2 Premolar: 7 | Incisor: 21 Canine: 3 Premolar: 6 | Laser Group: 34 Control Group: 34 | VAS | Lidocaine | No medication used | Single | Reciprocating motion using RECIPROC files sizes #25 and #40 | NR (Used apex locator) | 2% CHX 17% EDTA Sterile saline | Single Reciproc gutta-percha cone with Endomethasone N cement | NR | Operator: One Qualification: NR |
RCT | Coelho (2019) | PDT | Ultrasonic activation | 60 | Laser Group Maxilla: 19 Mandible: 11 Control Group Maxilla: 20 Mandible: 9 | Incisors: 20 Canine: 1 Premolar: 9 | Incision: 17 Canine: 5 Premolar: 8 | Laser Group: 47 Control Group: 47 | VAS | Articaine | Ibuprofen 600 mg Laser Group 0.13 tablets Control Group 0.77 tablets | Single | Reciprocating motion using RECIPROC | 1 mm short of the radiographic apex (Used apex locator) | 2.5% NaOCl 17% EDTA | Warm vertical condensation using gutta-percha and AH plus sealer | NR | NR |
RCT | Vilas-boas (2021) | PDT | Ultrasonic activation | 65 | Laser Group: Maxilla: 14 Mandible: 19 Control Group Maxilla: 16 Mandible: 16 | Premolar: 8 Molar: 25 | Premolar: 13 Molar: 19 | Laser Group: 45 Control Group: 48 | VAS | Lidocaine | Ibuprofen 600 mg Laser Group 0.24 tablets Control Group 0.97 tablets | Two visits | Rotary motion using ProTaper | 1 mm short from the 0.0 reading of the electronic apex locator | 2.5% NaOCl 17% EDTA Sterile saline | NR | NR | NR |
RCT | Lopes (2018) | LLLT | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) | 60 | Laser Group Mandible: 30 Control Group Mandible: 30 | Molars: 30 | Molars: 30 | Laser Group: 30 Control Group: 28 | NRS/VRS | Lidocaine | Ibuprofen 600 mg Laser Group n = 2 (6.6%) Control Group n = 2 (6.6%) | NR | Reciprocating motion using WaveOne | NR (Used apex locator) | 2.5% NaOCl 17% EDTA | Thermomechanical compaction using gutta-percha and AH plus sealer | Laser Group: n = 10 (33.3%) Control Group: n = 13 (43.3%) | Operator: One Qualification: NR |
RCT | Nabi (2018) | LLLT | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) | 60 | NR | NR | NR | Laser Group: 35 Control Group: 35 | Heft parker pain survey | Articaine | No medication used | Single | Rotary motion using ProTaper | 0.5 mm short of the radiographic apex (Used apex locator) | 5.25% NaOCl | Lateral compaction using gutta-percha and AH plus sealer | NR | NR |
RCT | Naseri (2020) | LLLT | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) | 75 | Laser Group Maxilla: 20 Mandible: 30 Control Group Maxilla: 7 Mandible: 18 | Molars: 50 | Molars: 25 | Laser Group: 18 to 60 Control Group: 18 to 60 | VAS/NRS | Lidocaine | Ibuprofen 400 mg Laser Group 0.8 ± 0.64 tablets Control Group 2.16 ± 1.625 tablets | Single | Rotary motion using ProTaper | NR | 2.5% NaOCl | Cold lateral compaction using gutta-percha and AH26 sealer | NR | NR |
RCT | Yıldız (2018) | LLLT | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) | 28 | Laser Group Mandible: 14 Control Group Mandible: 14 | Molars: 14 | Molars: 14 | Laser Group: 28 Control Group: 26 | VAS | Articaine | Ibuprofen 400 mg Laser Group n = 1 (7.1%) Control Group n = 3 (21.4%) | Single | Reciprocating motion using RECIPROC | NR (Used apex locator) | 1% NaOCl 5% EDTA | Matched single cones with 2Seal sealer | NR | Operator: One Qualification: Endodontic Specialist |
RCT | Erkan (2022) | Irrigation activation with Er: YAG | Manual dynamic activation Sonic system with EDDY Ultrasonic activation | 200 | Laser Group Mandible: 80 Control Group Mandible: 120 | Premolar: 80 | Premolar: 120 | Laser Group: 33 Control Group: 33 | VAS | Articaine | No medication used | Single | Rotary motion using ProTaper | NR (Used apex locator) | 3% NaOCl 17% EDTA Sterile saline | Cold lateral compaction using gutta-percha and AH plus sealer | NR | Operator: One Qualification: Endodontic Specialist |
RCT | Liapis (2021) | Irrigation activation with ER: YAG | Ultrasonic activation | 55 | NR | Non-molar: 13 Molars: 15 | Non-molar: 13 Molars: 15 | Laser Group: 44 Control Group: 41 | VAS | Articaine | Ibuprofen 400 mg Laser Group 6 h (n = 2) (7.7%) 24 h (n = 1) (3.9%) 48 h (n = 1) (3.9%) 72 h (n = 1) (3.9%) Control Group 6 h (n = 7) (26.0%) 24 h (n = 5) (18.5%) 48 h (n = 2) (7.4%) 72 h (n = 1) (3.7%) | Single | Rotary motion using ProTaper | NR (Used apex locator) | 3% NaOCl 17% EDTA | Continuous wave of compaction using gutta-percha and AH plus sealer | NR | Operator: One Qualification: NR |
RCT | Kaplan (2021) | Disinfection with Diode | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) | 60 | NR | Single rooted teeth: 30 | Single rooted teeth: 30 | Laser Group: 34 Control Group: 32 | VAS | Articaine | Ibuprofen 600 mg Laser Group No medication used Control Group 8 h (n = 12) (40%) 24 h (n = 7) (23.3%) 48 h (n = 4) (13.3%) | Two visits | Rotary motion using ProTaper | NR (Used apex locator) | 2.5% NaOCl 17% EDTA Sterile saline | Cold lateral compaction using gutta-percha and AH plus sealer | NR | Operator: One Qualification: NR |
RCT | Morsy (2018) | Disinfection with Diode | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) | 56 | Laser Group Maxilla: 28 Control Group Maxilla: 28 | Anterior: 28 | Anterior: 28 | Laser Group: 25 Control Group: 28 | NRS | Articaine | No medication used | Two visits | Rotary motion using ProTaper | NR (Used apex locator) | 2.5% NaOCl 17% EDTA Sterile saline | Modified single cone technique using gutta-percha and ADSEAL resin-based root canal sealer | NR | Operator: One Qualification: Endodontic Specialist |
RCT | Koba (1999) | Disinfection with Nd: YAG | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) | 44 | NR | Incisors: 12 Premolars: 5 Molars: 5 | Incisors: 12 Premolars: 5 Molars: 5 | Laser Group: 26 to 59 Control Group: 26 to 59 | Pain upon percussion | NR | No medication used | Single | Stepback technique using manual K-files | 1 mm short of the radiographic apex (Used apex locator) | 5% NaOCl 3% H2O2 | Laterally condensed gutta-percha and Canals N sealer | NR | NR |
RCT | Tunc (2021) | Disinfection with Nd: YAG and Diode | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) | 102 | Laser Group Maxilla: 36 Mandible = 32 Control Group Maxilla: 17 Mandible = 17 | Single rooted teeth: 68 | Single rooted teeth: 34 | Laser Group: 34 Control Group: 34 | VAS | Articaine | No medication used | Single | Rotary motion using Revo-S | NR (Used apex locator) | 2.5% NaOCl 17% EDTA Sterile saline | Lateral condensation using gutta-percha and epoxy resin-based sealer | No radiographic extrusion was observed in any case. | Operator: One Qualification: NR |
re-RCT | Arslan (2017) | LLLT | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) | 36 | Laser Group Mandible: 18 Control Group Mandible: 18 | Molars: 18 | Molars: 18 | Laser Group: 33 Control Group: 26 | VAS | Articaine | Drug: NR Laser Group n = 1 (5.5%) Control Group n = 9 (50%) | Two visits | Reciprocating motion using RECIPROC | NR (Used apex locator) | 1% NaOCl 2% Citric acid Sterile Saline | Lateral compaction using gutta-percha and Sealapex sealer | NR | Operator: Two, one for each group Qualification: NR |
re-RCT | Asnaashari (2017) | LLLT | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) | 61 | Laser Group Maxilla: 20 Mandible: 21 Control Group Maxilla: 10 Mandible: 10 | Molars: 41 | Molars: 20 | NR | VAS | Articaine | Drug: NR Laser Group n = 4 (6.6%) Control Group n = 4 (6.6%) | Single | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
re-RCT | Fazlyab (2021) | LLLT | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) | 36 | Laser Group Mandible: 18 Control Group Mandible: 18 | Molars: 18 | Molars: 18 | Laser Group: 44 Control Group: 44 | VAS | Articaine | No medication used | Single | Dis-obturation using D RaCe retreatment system followed by instrumentation with RaCe rotary instruments if needed. | 0.5 mm short from the 0.0 reading of the electronic apex locator | 5.25% NaOCl 17% EDTA Sterile Saline | Lateral compaction using gutta-percha and AH plus sealer | NR | Operator: One Qualification: NR |
re-RCT | Genc Sen (2019) | Disinfection with Diode | Without laser irradiation (Placebo) | 84 | NR | Single rooted teeth: 42 | Single rooted teeth: 42 | Laser Group: 31 Control Group: 36 | NRS | Articaine | Ibuprofen 400 mg Laser Group 0.11 ± 0.52 tablets Control Group 1.11 ± 2.14 tablets | Single | Dis-obturation using ProTaper Universal Retreatment files followed by instrumentation with manual K-files if needed. | NR (Used apex locator) | 2% NaOCl 17% EDTA | Cold lateral condensation using gutta-percha and epoxy resin-based sealer | NR | Operator: One Qualification: NR |
