Introduction: The repair of the inferior alveolar sensory nerve is a major concern for dentists during dental procedures. Despite ongoing debates on various treatment modalities, this study aims to compare the effectiveness of 940nm and 810nm diode lasers on the repair of the nerve.
Methods: In this single-blinded randomized clinical trial, 39 patients with inferior alveolar nerve injury were divided into three groups: 1. 810nm laser irradiated, 2. 940nm laser irradiated, and 3. No laser irradiation (control group). All patients were treated in 12 sessions (3 days per week) and evaluated using a complete clinical neurosensory test (CNT), including brushstroke, 2-point discrimination, pinprick nociception, and thermal discrimination before and after treatment.
Results: The mean dysesthesia of the patient treated with 810nm diode laser was significantly lower than the control group in all sessions (the 1st (p= 0.003), 3rd (p= 0.008), 7th (p= 0.006), and 12th sessions (p= 0.005)). The 810nm laser resulted in more satisfaction in patients than the control group in almost all sessions (1st (p< 0.001), 7th (p= 0.028), and 12th (p= 0.006)). More patient satisfaction was seen in the 1st and 3rd sessions in the 810nm laser than in the 980nm laser (p< 0.001 and p= 0.003, respectively).
Conclusion: It has been observed that the 810nm diode laser may be more effective in repairing damage to the inferior alveolar sensory nerve compared to the 940nm diode laser.