The possible analgesic effect of soft-laser irradiation on heat nociceptors in the cat tongue
Shuji Mezawa, Koichi Iwata, Kimisato Naito, Hiroyuki Kamogawa
Archives of Oral Biology, Volume 33, Issue 9, 1988,pages 693-694
The possible analgesic effect of soft-laser irradiation on heat nociceptors in the cat tongue
Laser therapy can switch off nociceptors
This study recorded single-fibre discharges in the lingual nerve. A total of 11 heat nociceptors were tested and of these 60 per cent decreased their firing frequency following soft-laser (GaAlAs semiconductor laser) irradiation for 1 min; firing frequency was decreased in all the nociceptors studied following irradiation for 3 to 10 min. The reduction in firing rate was similar between 5 and 10 min after irradiation suggesting the effect reached a plateau within this time.
These findings suggest that soft-laser irradiation might have an analgesic effect on tongue pain.