Hyposalivation Response to Low-Level Laser in Diabetic Type 2 Patients

Abstract Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder, which usually leads to various complications. Among these complications is salivary hypofunction characterized by an abnormal reduction in saliva flow rate. Aim of Study: The aim of this study was to find out the efficacy of LLLT on hyposalivation in diabetic type 2 patients. Patients and Methods: Twenty-five diabetic type 2 patients from both sexes (16 females and 9 males) were included in the study. Their ages ranged from 40 to 55 years old. Patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of internal medicine, Suez Canal hospital. All patients included in the study were with whole resting saliva !90.16ml/min. The study was con-ducted from August 2020 to March 2021. The salivary flow rate was measured using the 'low forced spitting' method. The collection period was 5min. The salivary flow rate (ml/min) was calculated by dividing the collected salivary amount (volume in ml) by the time of collection period (5 minutes). The salivary flow rate was measured before starting of sessions (pretreatment), after the 6th session (post I), and after the 12th session (post II) in the same procedure. Patients were assigned into one experimental group received 12 sessions (2 sessions per week for 6 weeks) of low-level laser. LLLT was performed on the major salivary glands punctually. Three points were applied extraorally to each parotid gland, two to each sub-mandibular gland, and two to each sublingual gland. A total of 14 points were applied per session. Application duration was 30 sec per point (total duration of 14 points was 420sec). Results: There was a significant increase in salivary flow rate at the post I and post II compared with pretreatment (p < 0.001). The percent of change at the post I was 118.18% and at post II was 218.18%. There was a significant increase in salivary flow rate at post II compared with post I (p < 0.001) and the percentage of increase was 45.83%. Conclusion: These results suggested that LLLT had a hopeful effective role in improving hyposalivation related to diabetic complications.