Comparison 1. Laser versus placebo/no treatment. Outcome: changes in intensity of pain (VAS with value range from 0 to 10) when tested through air blast stimuli.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1.1 Short term ‐ all types of laser	13		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.24 [‐3.55, ‐0.93]
1.1.1 Split‐mouth design	8		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.97 [‐3.99, ‐1.95]
1.1.2 Parallel design	5		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.12 [‐2.40, 0.15]
1.2 Short term ‐ Er,Cr:YSGG	3		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.2.1 Split‐mouth design	3		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐4.61 [‐4.83, ‐4.39]
1.3 Short term ‐ Nd:YAG	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.22 [‐0.55, 0.99]
1.3.1 Split‐mouth design	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.20 [‐0.85, 1.25]
1.3.2 Parallel design	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.24 [‐0.90, 1.38]
1.4 Short term ‐ diode: visible red (630 nm to 700 nm)	4		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.95 [‐3.14, ‐0.76]
1.4.1 Split‐mouth design	3		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.63 [‐3.09, ‐0.17]
1.4.2 Parallel design	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.97 [‐3.99, ‐1.95]
1.5 Short term ‐ diode: near infrared (700 nm to 850 nm)	4		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.62 [‐5.61, 0.38]
1.5.1 Split‐mouth design	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐4.69 [‐5.08, ‐4.30]
1.5.2 Parallel design	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.46 [‐1.87, 0.96]
1.6 Short term ‐ diode: near infrared (850 nm to 980 nm)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.90 [‐2.49, ‐1.31]
1.6.1 Parallel design	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.90 [‐2.49, ‐1.31]
1.7 Medium term ‐ all types of laser	11		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.46 [‐3.57, ‐1.35]
1.7.1 Split‐mouth design	6		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.48 [‐4.68, ‐2.29]
1.7.2 Parallel design	5		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.27 [‐2.37, ‐0.16]
1.8 Medium term ‐ Er,Cr:YSGG	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.8.1 Split‐mouth design	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐4.90 [‐5.21, ‐4.59]
1.9 Medium term ‐ Nd:YAG	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.42 [‐0.97, 1.82]
1.9.1 Split‐mouth design	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.02, 2.04]
1.9.2 Parallel design	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.41 [‐1.92, 1.10]
1.10 Medium term ‐ diode: visible red (630 nm to 700 nm)	4		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.45 [‐4.35, 1.44]
1.10.1 Split‐mouth design	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.60 [‐6.64, ‐0.57]
1.10.2 Parallel design	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.83 [‐0.80, 2.46]
1.11 Medium term ‐ diode: near infrared (700 nm to 850 nm)	4		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.22 [‐4.88, ‐1.56]
1.11.1 Split‐mouth design	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐4.67 [‐5.11, ‐4.23]
1.11.2 Parallel design	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.67 [‐3.82, 0.49]
1.12 Medium term ‐ diode: near infrared (850 nm to 980 nm)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.30 [‐2.86, ‐1.74]
1.12.1 Parallel design	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.30 [‐2.86, ‐1.74]
1.13 Long term ‐ all types of laser	5		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.60 [‐4.47, ‐0.73]
1.13.1 Split‐mouth design	5		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.60 [‐4.47, ‐0.73]
1.14 Long term ‐ Er,Cr:YSGG	2		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.14.1 Split‐mouth design	2		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	‐5.19 [‐5.50, ‐4.89]
1.15 Long term ‐ Nd:YAG	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.15.1 Split‐mouth design	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.18 [‐0.84, 1.20]
1.16 Long term ‐ diode: visible red (630 nm to 700 nm)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.81 [‐0.78, 2.40]
1.16.1 Split‐mouth design	1		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.81 [‐0.78, 2.40]
1.17 Long term ‐ diode: near infrared (700 nm to 850 nm)	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.83 [‐6.90, ‐0.77]
1.17.1 Split‐mouth design	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.83 [‐6.90, ‐0.77]