Efficacy of photobiomodulation in the management of experimentally-induced peri‑implant osseous defects: An evidence-based review of studies on animal-models

Objective: The aim of the present evidence-based review was to evaluate the efficacy of photobiomodulation in the management of experimentally-induced peri‑implant osseous defects (POD). Data: Conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Sources: PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Scopus and ISI Web of Knowledge were searched without time and language restrictions up to and including April 2025. Study selection: Pre-clinical studies that assessed the effect of photobiomodulation in the management of experimentally-induced POD. Conclusions: Nine studies on canine-models with a split-mouth design and follow-up durations ranging between 3–12 months were included. Implants (16 to 60) with lengths and diameters ranging from 10–11 mm and 3.3–4.1 mm, respectively were used. All implants were placed bilaterally at crestal bone levels in the mandible. In three and five studies, GaAlAs and Er;YAG lasers were used, respectively. Two studies assessed the efficacy of CO₂ for the assessment of new bone formation (NBF) in POD. Three studies assessed the efficacy of photodynamic therapy for the assessment of NBF in POD. Results from approximately 89 % of the studies showed significantly more NBF in POD in all experimental than control groups. Eight studies had a high RoB. Clinical significance: From a clinical perspective, the efficacy of photobiomodulation in the management of experimentally-induced POD remains unclear. The primary reasoning for this is the high level of heterogeneity and RoB among the existing preclinical investigations.