Abstract
Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with impaired wound healing and increased oxidative stress, posing a significant challenge in dental wound healing. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has emerged as a potential regenerative treatment to enhance tissue repair. This study aims to investigate the effects of LLLT on oral mucosal wound healing and oxidative stress markers in rats with DM. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats (n = 108) were divided into six equal groups (healthy and diabetic, with or without mucosal ulcers, with or without LLLT). DM was induced with alloxan, and standardized mucosal ulcers were created. Every other day for 10 days, LLLT (6 J/cm(2)) was applied, and tissue samples were collected after 3, 7, and 10 days. Wound healing was assessed by planimetry, while systemic biochemical analyses included total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and oxidative stress index (OSI). Results: LLLT significantly accelerated oral ulcer closure and showed between-group differences in redox markers. In healthy rats, LLLT increased wound closure on day 7 (p = 0.018). In diabetic rats, LLLT improved closure on day 3 (p = 0.035) and on day 7 (p = 0.001). Across groups, oxidative markers differed significantly (e.g., TOS on day 10 overall, p = 0.011; OSI on day 10 overall, p = 0.047; SOD p < 0.001 at all time points). In diabetic rats, on day 10, median TOS was lower with LLLT (p = 0.004). Conclusions: LLLT enhances oral wound healing and restores redox balance in diabetic rats, which supports the potential usage of LLLT as an adjunctive therapy for managing oral lesions in diabetic patients.