Cure Pain and Improve Wound Healing usin...

Have you heard of Photobiomodulation (PBM)? Or are you thinking… ‘photo-what?!’

Is red light therapy just voodoo science—or is it already part of mainstream healthcare?

Can PBM really help with wound healing, pain relief, and even reduce the risk of dementia?

In this episode, Professor Praveen Arany joins Jaz Gulati to break down the science and clinical relevance of PBM in dentistry. They explore how this light-based therapy works, its applications in managing oral lesions, and why it’s already standard care for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

They also discuss real-world cases, practical protocols, and how PBM could shape the future of dental care. Whether you’re a skeptic or just curious, this episode will open your eyes to an emerging and evidence-based treatment modality.

Protrusive Dental Pearl: SHEEP Scoring as a practical tool to assess the prognosis and restorability of compromised teeth.

🐑 SHEEP stands for:

• S – Structure: Amount of remaining tooth structure
• H – History: Patient’s dental and medical history (e.g. caries risk, trauma)
• E – Endodontics: Endodontic prognosis (ease/difficulty of root canal treatment)
• E – Expertise: Your personal skill and experience with managing such cases
• P – Periodontal: Periodontal condition and bone support

Each category is scored out of 10, and the total is doubled to give a percentage-based prognosis. This structured approach supports clinical decision-making, encourages honest reflection on the clinician’s own skills, and enhances patient communication during consent. The method is backed by literature, including a paper co-authored by Martin Kelleher.

Need to Read it? Check out the Full Episode Transcript below!

Key Takeaways

• Photobiomodulation can significantly improve patient comfort and healing.
• The treatment is standard for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
• There are no known adverse effects of PBM when used correctly.
• PBM can be used effectively in various dental procedures.
• The future of PBM includes personalized treatment protocols.
• Research is ongoing to optimize PBM applications in dentistry.
• PBM is distinct from other laser treatments and has unique benefits.
• The technology is becoming more accessible to practitioners.
• Awareness of PBM’s benefits is growing in the wellness industry.

📚 Resources
Prof. Praveen Arany shares papers on:

• Light buckets and laser beams: mechanisms and applications of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy
• Photobiomodulation therapy: Ushering in a new era in personalized supportive cancer care
• Photobiomodulation Therapy by Prof. Praveen R. Arany
• Photobiomodulation therapy in management of cancer therapy-induced side effects: WALT position paper 2022

For full PDFs, you can check out Protrusive Guidance.

📖 You can find more of Prof. Praveen Arany’s scientific papers on Google Scholar

📢 Two Upcoming PBM Courses!

ADA PBM Course – A dental-focused program by the American Dental Association.
📧 Contact: Sherie Tynes – tyness@ada.org

PBM in Supportive Cancer Care – Held at Gustav Roussy Hospital, Paris.
📧 Contact: Dr. Camelia Billard – camelia.billard@gustaveroussy.fr

If you liked this episode, check out Medication Related Osteonecrosis for GDPs – What You Need to Know (MRONJ) – PDP215

#PDPMainEpisodes #OralSurgeryandOralMedicine #BreadandButterDentistry #CareerDevelopment

This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. 

This episode meets GDC Outcomes B & C.

AGD Subject Code: 135 – Laser Therapy/Electrosurgery

Aim

To introduce dental professionals to the fundamental science, clinical applications, and emerging potential of Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy in dentistry.

Dentists will be able to –

• Define photobiomodulation (PBM) and explain how it differs from surgical laser applications.
• Describe three key mechanisms of PBM at the molecular level.
• Identify clinical situations where PBM can enhance patient outcomes (e.g., mucositis, ulcers, TMD).