Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation) in Oral Surgery

By Dr. Scott Puckett, DDS · Updated September 2026

Red light therapy — known clinically as photobiomodulation — uses red and near-infrared light to stimulate your cells’ own energy production, which can reduce pain and inflammation and speed healing after oral surgery. It’s painless, non-invasive, and supported by a growing body of clinical evidence, which is why it’s part of a modern biological surgical protocol.

What is red light therapy?

Red light therapy, or photobiomodulation (PBM) — formerly called low-level laser therapy — delivers specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to tissue. It’s not a heat treatment and it doesn’t cut or burn; the light is absorbed by your cells and used to nudge natural healing processes along. Though it feels new, the technology has been studied and used for decades across medicine, dentistry, and even veterinary care.

Red light therapy, or photobiomodulation, has been around for decades. We use it here at and around the surgical time to help jump-start the patient’s healing potential.
Dr. Scott Puckett, DDS

How it works: the mitochondria connection

The mechanism is genuinely interesting, and it explains why the effect is real rather than mystical. Inside nearly every cell are mitochondria — the structures that produce your cells’ energy in the form of a molecule called ATP. Certain wavelengths of red and near-infrared light are absorbed by components inside the mitochondria, which increases ATP production. With more available energy, cells can repair, divide, and manage inflammation more efficiently.

In plain terms: the light gives your healing cells an energy boost, and better-fueled cells recover faster and calm inflammation more effectively.

The red and infrared light stimulate mitochondria, which helps maximize the patient’s ability to heal and can help minimize post-operative pain and swelling.
Dr. Scott Puckett, DDS

What it does after oral surgery

Applied around the time of a procedure, photobiomodulation aims to:

Reduce post-operative pain in the critical early days
Lower swelling and inflammation
Speed soft-tissue (gum) healing so sites close over faster
Support implant stability and early integration with bone

What the evidence shows

Photobiomodulation is one of the better-studied biological tools, and the dental evidence is encouraging. Systematic reviews and clinical trials report that PBM can significantly reduce pain and facial swelling after surgery — with measurably lower pain and inflammation at three and seven days post-procedure in treated patients — and can improve soft-tissue healing and early implant stability. The best results tend to come from applying it for acute pain within about the first 72 hours.

The honest caveat: researchers consistently note that more large, standardized trials are needed to pin down the ideal wavelengths, doses, and timing. In other words, the direction of the evidence is positive and the treatment is very low-risk, but protocols are still being refined — so it’s best viewed as a well-supported aid to healing rather than a guaranteed outcome.

How Dr. Puckett uses it

Wilmington Oral Surgery uses red and near-infrared light units (from Mito Red Light) at and around the time of surgery to jump-start healing, as one part of a broader biologic protocol alongside PRF and a natural, opioid-sparing recovery. It’s a natural fit for a biological approach precisely because it works with the body’s own cellular machinery rather than introducing anything foreign.

What a session is like

From the patient’s side, there’s almost nothing to it: the light is positioned near the treatment area for a short time, you may feel mild warmth, and that’s it. There’s no discomfort, no downtime, and no recovery from the treatment itself — just protective eyewear during the session.

Beyond surgery

Photobiomodulation’s usefulness isn’t limited to extractions and implants. In dentistry it’s also studied for oral mucositis (a painful side effect of cancer therapy), TMJ disorders, mouth ulcers, and orthodontic and periodontal care — part of why it’s earning a place in modern dental practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does red light therapy actually work for healing?

There’s a growing body of clinical evidence that it helps. Studies in dentistry find photobiomodulation can reduce post-operative pain and swelling and speed soft-tissue healing, with measurable benefits in the first days after surgery. Researchers note that larger, standardized trials are still needed to firm up protocols.

Does red light therapy hurt?

No. It’s completely painless and non-invasive — you simply feel gentle warmth, if anything. There are no needles, no cutting, and no recovery from the treatment itself.

Is red light therapy safe?

Yes, it’s considered very safe when done properly. The main precaution is protecting the eyes from direct light. It’s been used in medicine and dentistry for decades.

Is this the same as the red light panels and masks people buy?

It’s the same underlying science — red and near-infrared light stimulating your cells — but clinical devices use specific, calibrated wavelengths and doses for a medical purpose, applied at the right time around your procedure.

How many sessions does it take?

In a surgical setting it’s typically used at and around the time of the procedure to jump-start healing, so it may be just one or a few sessions rather than an ongoing course. Your provider will tailor it to your case.

Can red light therapy help with things besides surgery?

Yes — in dentistry, photobiomodulation is also studied for oral mucositis, TMJ disorders, mouth ulcers, and orthodontic and periodontal treatment. Its usefulness spans several areas of oral health.