USE OF LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY IN THE CONTROLO OF THE PAIN AND ANXIETY IN PEDIATRIC DENTAL PATIENTS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Pediatric dentistry often involves procedures capable of triggering pain and anxiety, factors that may compromise the child’s cooperation and the success of dental treatment. In this context, low-level laser therapy has been investigated as an adjunctive therapeutic alternative due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and biostimulatory effects.The present study aimed to review the scientific literature regarding the use of low-level laser therapy in the control of pain and anxiety in pediatric dental patients. The search was conducted in the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using the following descriptors: “Laser Therapy,” “Pediatric Dentistry,” “Pain,” and “Anxiety,” combined through the Boolean operators AND and OR, in order to optimize the sensitivity and specificity of the search strategy.The findings indicate that laser therapy has significant potential to reduce pain perception, minimize discomfort during dental procedures, and contribute to improved behavioral management in children. It is concluded that low-level laser therapy represents a promising resource in pediatric dental practice; however, further studies with standardized protocols are required to strengthen the level of scientific evidence.