Articles

The Use of Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Inflammation through Lymphatic Drainage

Many sports injuries result in inflammation in the injured part, and with the increased participation of the general population in contact sports like football and rugby, more and more injuries are being seen involving the lower mandible and the maxillofacial area. The main goal of this paper is to describe the use of laser therapy in lymphatic drainage in the treatment of different diseases and conditions, all of which have in common the presence of inflammation, a condition affecting almost all patients who present at dental and maxillofacial units with injuries of the face. Laser therapy has been frequently used in dental offices due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory (activating the lymphatic system) and healing effects. Recent research has demonstrated that the stimulating effect of the laser is not limited to mammals, as it has been shown that viral and bacterial microorganisms also respond when exposed. That is why the use of laser therapy directly over highly contaminated lesions may not be optimal, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Lymphatic drainage has frequently been used for medical purposes not only in clinical treatment, but also for cosmetic and aesthetic treatments. In the dental and maxillofacial field, this technique is not commonly used, although it is very effective in some inflammatory processes. When dealing with acute infected processes (such as pericoronitis, endodontic abscesses, alveolites and herpes) laser therapy can be effectively used through the lymphatic drainage of the area, reducing the inflammation and avoiding direct irradiation on the infected and contaminated area. In the present report we will describe this technique, and look further at other parts of the lymphatic system, particularly as it pertains to injuries and inflammatory conditions of the major joints, and their treatment with laser therapy using the lymphatic drainage technique.