Low level laser therapy (LLLT) has been investigated and used clinically for over 30 years, mostly in Eastern Europe and Asia. The ability of lasers to cut, cauterise, and destroy tissue is well known throughout the medical world. However, its role at lower power is less well appreciated. The ability to non-thermally and non-destructively change cell function is known as laser biostimulation and is the basis for the current use of lasers in a number of medical fields. The worldwide interest in LLLT is illustrated by its use in more than 85 institutions in over 37 countries. Since the first study was reported in 1967, some 2500 papers have been published in a range of journals worldwide and the value of LLLT is much better reported than many believe. Its scientific background is sound enough to say that it is both safe and effective. However, positive double blind studies are unfortunately none too easy to find. Among the 100 selected for evaluation in this review, only 28 could be found on Medline. Many studies have been published in regional or national publications, which are not indexed on Medline or similar databases. The main reasons for this restricted publication include language barriers and lack of availability of professional journals because of financial constraints.