Evaluation of heat on the teeth during upper lip laser epilation: Clinical experiment

Abstract

Objective: The temperature of adjacent tissues during epilation has long been the subject of research. However, there is no literature on the heat that occurs in the teeth during laser epilation of the upper lip. This study measured the increase in the heat of the teeth during upper lip laser epilation. Material and Methods: The study included 51 patients. Three heat measurement sensors were placed on the labial surface of the anterior teeth. Before starting the procedure, the first measurement was taken, and the maximum values were recorded as °C. After the procedure, a visual analog scale (VAS) was applied. Paired samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA (p<0.05) test were applied for the statistical analysis. Results: A statistically significant difference was determined between the maximum and initial heat in the 3 sensors (S1F 36±1.7, S1Max 40.8±2.3, S2F 36.3±0.9, S2Max 40.3±1.8, S3F 36.3±0.9, S3Max 40.7±2.9). No statistically significant difference was determined between the 3 sensors in the distribution of the maximum and initial heat (p>0.05). A statistically significant difference was determined regarding the distribution of VAS values in the teeth and lips (p<0.001). The pain felt in the upper lip (6±2) was significantly greater than the pain felt in the teeth (5±2) (p<0.001). Conclusion: The increase in heat during upper lip laser epilation can be said to be safe for the dental pulp. The sensitivity and pain experienced during the procedure are due to the heat increase. The use of a white-coloured appliance is recommended during upper lip laser epilation.