The term Laser "Photobiomodulation" was coined to encompass the pleiotropic effects of low-power lasers on biological processes. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta had a role in mediating the biological effects of low-power far-infrared laser irradiation. We assayed for in vitro activation using various biological forms of cell-secreted, recombinant, and serum latent TGF-beta using the p3TP reporter and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We demonstrate here that low-power lasers are capable of activating latent TGF-beta1 and -beta3 in vitro and, further, that it is capable of "priming" these complexes, making them more amenable to physiological activation present in the healing milieu. Using an in vivo oral tooth extraction-healing model, we observed an increased TGF-beta1, but not beta3, expression by immunohistochemistry immediately following laser irradiation while TGF-beta3 expression was increased after 14 days, concomitant with an increased inflammatory infiltrate. All comparisons were performed between laser-irradiated wounds and nonirradiated wounds in each subject essentially using them as their own control (paired T-test p<0.05). Low-power laser irradiation is capable of activating the latent TGF-beta1 complex in vitro and its expression pattern in vivo suggests that TGF-beta play a central role in mediating the accelerated healing response.

Our results corroborate the possibility that OSMF actually represents an abnormal healing process in response to chronic mechanical and chemical irritation because of areca nut chewing as demonstrated by the increased incidence of myofibroblasts in this disease. Furthermore, the progressive increase in myofibroblasts from early to advanced stages suggests their potential use as markers for evaluating the severity of OSMF.

Tumor budding is frequently encountered histologic marker in OSCC. High-intensity tumor budding is a strong independent prognostic factor for prediction of lymph node metastasis.

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This study showed 58.5% of asymptomatic cases with definite pathological changes. Hence, thorough clinical and radiographic examination should be carried out for all impacted third molars and the dental follicular tissue should be submitted for histopathological evaluation.