Photobiomodulation-assisted surgical wound healing at palatal donor site area: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to critically analyze the effects of photobiomodulation on recovery of the donor area after free gingival graft (FGG) surgery. DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science with date of access up to 7 April 2025, structured according to the PICO strategy: patients ≥ 18 years undergoing removal of FGGs from the palatal region (P), intervention with photobiomodulation at the donor site (I), compared with natural healing (C), evaluating wound healing as the primary and pain as the secondary outcome (O). A total of 668 records were identified and 8 randomized clinical trials, in which 284 participants were included. In outcomes, clinical healing parameters and patient-reported pain were analyzed, in which the majority of studies demonstrated that photobiomodulation positively influenced epithelialization, reduction in wound area, and tissue color during the first two postoperative weeks. However, the effect on pain control was inconsistent among studies, with only two showing statistically significant reductions. The studies included demonstrated clinical and methodologic heterogeneity due to different laser parameters, and their designs made statistical pooling of data unfeasible for a meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: Photobiomodulation appears to be a promising adjunctive therapy to accelerate palatal wound healing after FGG, particularly in the early postoperative period. Nevertheless, the clinical benefit in pain management remains uncertain. Future well-designed studies with standardized protocols are needed to strengthen contemporary evidence. (Quintessence Int 2026;57:230-241; doi: 10.3290/j.qi.b6762754).