Pablo Betancourt& Luciane Hiramatsu Azevedoa

Orthognathic surgery can sometimes cause sensory disturbances in the orofacial region. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in a treatment of a 24-year-old female patient who experienced decreased chin and lower lip sensation following orthognathic surgery performed two years earlier. PBMT using a 808±10 nm diode laser was administered over nine clinical sessions. The dosimetry used consisted of power 0.1W of power, energy per point of 3J, exposure time/point of 30 seconds per spot in continuous mode and 69.76 J/cm2 of energy density. The treatment protocol involved irradiation of the extraoral pathway of the inferior alveolar nerve. In addition, nine points were selected for the application of the laser on the chin and four points on the inner and outer surface of the lower lip. The patient reported a significant improvement in sensory perception, indicating an almost complete recovery of sensation in the affected area. This case highlights the potential efficacy of PBMT in restoring sensory function, even in cases where sensory deficits persist long after surgery.

KEY WORDS: Photobiomodulation therapy; Orthognathic surgery; Nerve regeneration; Laser; Diode.

BETANCOURT, P. & HIRAMATSU AZEVEDO, L. Photobiomodulation therapy in the delayed treatment of nerve injury secondary to orthognathic surgery. A case report. Int. J. Morphol., 42(6):1524-1528, 2024.