Comparison of different dual-wavelength photobiomodulation protocols application in third molar extractions. A split-mouth randomized controlled trial

•Different dual-wavelength PBMT protocols induced a similar postoperative clinical course in third molar extraction surgeries.•The occurrence of complications was low and a good healing pattern of hard and soft tissues was observed in the both dual-wavelength PBMT protocols.•The fact that the current study did not obtain different results when comparing the different protocols mentioned is not due to a lack of effect of PBMT, but rather to the similarity in the effectiveness of the protocols. To compare the use of PBMT in the soft tissue and bone healing after third molar extraction using the dual-wavelength laser directly into the post-extraction alveoli (PBMT-I), or PBMT with a red laser directly into the alveoli and with an infrared laser externally on the patient's face (PBMT-IE). Twenty patients underwent extraction of four third molars were involved in this split-mouth double-blind randomized controlled trial. The Post-extraction alveoli were treated with the following protocols: PBMT-IE: Application of a red laser directly into the alveolus, and infrared laser irradiation transcutaneously and PBMT-I: Application of dual-wavelength laser intraorally. Patients were clinically evaluated 3, 7, 14, 30, and 90 days after the surgical procedure. The analyses in this study were divided into qualitative (centered on the patient's report and on the evaluators' analysis), and quantitative analyses (measurement of the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the face with the objective of measuring post-surgical edema and radiographic analyses for evaluation of the density and structure of the newly formed bone). A progressive improvement was observed in all parameters evaluated in this study, however, this improvement was time dependent, with no distinct effect observed between the PBMT treatments applied. The different dual-wavelength PBMT protocols induced a similar postoperative clinical course in third molar extraction surgeries, with a reduced occurrence of complications and a good healing pattern of hard and soft tissues.