Effect of low-level laser on bone defects treated with bovine or autogenous bone grafts: in vivo study in rat calvaria

Objective: The purpose of this study was to histologically evaluate the effect of low-level laser (LLL) on the healing of critical size defects (CSD) in rat calvaria, filled with autogenous or inorganic bovine bone grafts.

Methods: Sixty rats were divided into 6 groups (n = 10): C (control-filled with blood clot), LLL (low-level laser-GaAlAs, λ 780 nm, 100 mW, 210 J/cm(2), Φ 0.05 cm(2); 6 J/point), AB (autogenous bone), ABL (autogenous bone + low-level laser), OB (inorganic bovine bone), and OBL (inorganic bovine bone + LLL).