• 🍼 Infant frenectomy (tongue-tie release) – reducing pain, swelling, and improving feeding outcomes

• 🗣️ Speech and feeding – supporting swallowing, voice, and oral motor recovery

• 🧠 Neurodevelopment – enhancing emotional regulation, sleep, attention, and learning

• 🦵 Motor coordination and control – reducing spasticity, supporting muscle recovery, and improving motor function

• 😌 Pain and inflammation – aiding recovery in oral, dental, and musculoskeletal conditions

Below is a comprehensive list of studies examining LLLT across pediatric populations, along with summaries and links for deeper reading.

Infant Frenectomy (Tongue-Tie Release) Research

LLLT is increasingly applied before and after frenectomy to support comfort, healing, and oral function.

• LLLT in Pediatric Oral Surgeries
  Reduces postoperative pain, swelling, and speeds up oral wound healing.
  👉 PubMed

• Photobiomodulation for Oral Wound Healing
  World Association for Photobiomodulation Therapy (WALT) guidelines support PBM for pediatric oral wound care and pain relief.
  👉 WALT Guidelines

• Infant Frenectomy Case Reports
  Reports show improved breastfeeding outcomes (better latch, less nipple pain) and faster recovery when PBM is used post-frenectomy.
  👉 PubMed Case Summary

• PBM in Oral Mucositis (Children with Cancer)
  Demonstrates PBM’s ability to reduce oral pain and inflammation and promote mucosal healing—mechanisms directly applicable to frenectomy.
  👉 Archives of Disease in Childhood

• LLLT for Pre-Anesthetic Tissue Management
  PBM reduces tissue pain/tension in children before injections, suggesting benefit for pre-frenectomy preparation.
  👉 BMC Oral Health

• PBM in Feeding & Speech Rehabilitation
  Studies in dysphagia and speech therapy show PBM supports swallowing, oral motor recovery, and functional feeding skills.
  👉 SpringerLink – Dysphagia Study

Emotional Regulation, Sleep & Neurodevelopment

Research suggests that PBM may play a role in brain function and emotional well-being in children.

• Transcranial PBM in Autism (Ages 2–6)
  Randomized sham-controlled trial showed improvements in emotional regulation, attention, and behavioral symptoms.
  👉 Frontiers

• PBM in Autism Spectrum Disorder
  Studies report reduced irritability, emotional dysregulation, and behavioral challenges in children with ASD.
  👉 ResearchGate

• Neuroplasticity & Cognitive Recovery
  PBM enhances neuroplasticity, supporting recovery of speech, language, and cognitive functions in neurological conditions.
  👉 PubMed

• Sleep & Regulation
  LLLT was used to reduce inflammation of tonsils to increase airway capacity and allow for improved sleep quality and decreased sleep disordered breathing with good success.

  👉 Pediatric Medicine

Motor Coordination & Control

LLLT has been studied for its effects on spasticity, strength, and muscle recovery in children.

• Impact on Spasticity in Cerebral Palsy
  Systematic review shows LLLT may reduce spasticity and improve motor outcomes.
  👉 MDPI

• LLLT in Cerebral Palsy (Motor Function)
  Combined with functional training, LLLT improved gross motor outcomes in children.
  👉 Neuro Acupuncture

• PBM + Physiotherapy in Myelomeningocele
  Clinical trial showed improved functional performance and motor skills.
  👉 MDPI

• Effect on Quadriceps and Foot Muscles
  LLLT reduced muscle fatigue, improved strength, and supported exercise recovery in children.
  👉 PubMed Central

Additional Pediatric Research

• Children with Energy-Protein Malnutrition (1–5 yrs)
  LLLT improved salivary biomarkers in malnourished children.
  👉 PubMed

• LLLT in Cancer Therapy-Induced Oral Mucositis
  Systematic review/meta-analysis confirmed LLLT reduces severity and pain.
  👉 PubMed

• LLLT for Oral Mucositis in Cancer Patients
  Demonstrated significant pain relief and faster recovery.
  👉 SpringerLink

• Effect on Condylar Growth (Mandibular Deficiency)
  Enhanced condylar growth when paired with functional appliances.
  👉 SpringerLink

• Orthokeratology & LLLT for Myopia
  Both treatments slowed myopia progression.
  👉 Wiley Online Library

• PBM in Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis (AML)
  Reduced incidence/severity of mucositis in pediatric leukemia patients.
  👉 PubMed

• PBM Retarding Axial Length Growth in Myopia
  PBM slightly slowed axial length growth in myopic children.
  👉 Nature

• PBM for Injection Pain in Children
  Reduced pain perception during injections.
  👉 BMC

• Curcumin vs PBM in Oral Mucositis
  Both improved outcomes in cancer-related mucositis management.
  👉 SpringerLink

Speech Therapy Applications of LLLT

LLLT is increasingly relevant to speech-language pathology (SLP).

• Voice Disorders – Reduced inflammation, improved voice quality.
  👉 PubMed

• Aphasia Recovery – PBM promotes neuroplasticity and aids language recovery.
  👉 PubMed

• TMJ Disorders – Reduced pain, inflammation, improved function.
  👉 PubMed

• Clinical Overview in SLP – Safe integration into therapy for voice, dysphagia, and aphasia.
  👉 PubMed

• Swallowing Rehab – Reduced pain and inflammation in swallowing muscles.
  👉 PubMed

• Inflammatory Cytokines & TMJ Pain – LLLT lowered cytokines and pain.
  👉 PubMed

• Neurological Speech Disorders – Improved motor control in dysarthria and apraxia.
  👉 PMC

Key Takeaway

LLLT/Photobiomodulation is a safe, evidence-backed therapy with wide applications in pediatric care:

• 🍼 Frenectomy support – Faster healing, less pain, improved feeding

• 🗣️ Speech/feeding therapy – Supports swallowing, voice, and oral motor recovery

• 🧠 Neurodevelopment – Enhances regulation, attention, and sleep

• 🦵 Motor rehabilitation – Improves muscle performance and coordination

• 😌 Pain & inflammation – Gentle relief across oral, dental, and musculoskeletal needs

Have more questions? Let us know!

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) / Photobiomodulation for Infants & Children

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), also known as photobiomodulation (PBM), has been investigated in various studies for its potential therapeutic effects in children.

It is a gentle, non-invasive therapy that uses low-intensity light to stimulate healing and improve cellular function.

Research shows that LLLT may help with: