Project start: 1.10.2025.

Orofacial pain includes all painful conditions of the oral cavity, temporomandibular joint, and face. Chronic orofacial pain, especially neuropathic, can lead to anxiety and depression and increase the need for effective therapies. Modern medicine has a multidisciplinary approach, which includes psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), which explores the complex interactions between the immune and nervous systems in response to psychosocial influences.

Biomarkers such as IL17, IL18, IL35, kallikrein 13, and alpha-enolase may indicate chronic orofacial pain. IL18 is associated with inflammatory conditions, IL17 promotes neuroinflammation, while IL35 modulates the immune response and reduces inflammation. Kallikreins are involved in kinin activation, while alpha-enolase is linked to autoimmune diseases.

Common pharmacological treatments often result in side effects and fail to provide long-term pain relief. Biostimulatory laser therapy (780–904 nm) has shown a positive effect in pain reduction and tissue regeneration, but a standardized therapeutic protocol does not yet exist.

This research aims to assess the pain and psychological status of patients before, during, and after laser therapy, using validated pain scales (Numerical Rating Scale, VAS, painDETECT, DN4) and psychological questionnaires for mental health assessment (GAD-7, Pain Severity Scale, PHQ-9). Additionally, biomarkers IL17, IL18, IL35, kallikrein 13, and alpha-enolase will be analyzed in saliva samples collected before, during, and after laser therapy.

The combination of subjective and objective data will enable a thorough evaluation of therapy effectiveness and contribute to developing clinical practice guidelines. All data will be stored in a digital application developed specifically for this study, allowing for systematic analysis and optimization of therapeutic protocols.