The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of specific parameters of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on biofilms formed by Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans or an association of both species. Single and dual-species biofilms - SSB and DSB - were exposed to laser doses of 5, 10 or 20 J/cm 2 from a near infrared InGaAsP diode laser prototype (LASERTable; 780 ± 3 nm, 0.04 W). After irradiation, the analysis of biobilm viability (MTT assay), biofilm growth (cfu/mL) and cell morphology (SEM) showed that LLLT reduced cell viability as well as the growth of biofilms. The response of S. mutans (SSB) to irradiation was similar for all laser doses and the biofilm growth was dose dependent. However, when associated with C. albicans (DSB), S. mutans was resistant to LLLT. For C. albicans, the association with S. mutans (DSB) caused a significant decrease in biofilm growth in a dose-dependent fashion. The morphology of the microorganisms in the SSB was not altered by LLLT, while the association of microbial species (DSB) promoted a reduction in the formation of C. albicans hyphae. LLLT had an inhibitory effect on the microorganisms, and this capacity can be altered according to the interactions between different microbial species.226502510Marques, M.M., Pereira, A.N., Fujihara, N.A., Nogueira, F.N., Eduardo, C.P., Effect of low-power laser irradiation on protein synthesis and ultrastructure of human gingival fibroblasts (2004) Lasers Surg Med, 34, pp. 260-265Damante, C.A., de Micheli, G., Miyagi, S.P.H., Feist, I.S., Marques, M.M., Effect of laser phototherapy on the release of fibroblast growth factors by human gingival fibroblasts (2009) Lasers Med Sci, 24, pp. 885-891Moritz, A., Schoop, U., Goharkhay, K., Schauer, P., Doertbudak, O., Wernisch, J., Treatment of periodontal pockets with a diode laser (1998) Lasers Surg Med, 22, pp. 302-311Nussbaum, E.L., Lilge, L., Mazzulli, T., Effects of 630-, 660-, 810-, and 905-nm laser irradiation delivering radiant exposure of 1-50 J/cm 2 on three species of bacteria in vitro (2002) J Clin Laser Med Surg, 20, pp. 325-333Nussbaum, E.L., Lilge, L., Mazzulli, T., Effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) of 810 nm upon in vitro growth of bacteria: Relevance of irradiance and radiant exposure (2003) J Clin Laser Med Surg, 21, pp. 283-290Lino, M.D.M.C., Carvalho, F.B., Oliveira, L.R., Magalhães, E.B., Pinheiro, A.L.B., Ramalho, L.M.P., Laser phototherapy as a treatment for radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis (2011) Braz Dent J, 22, pp. 162-165Maver-Biscanin, M., Mravak-Stipetic, M., Jerolimov, V., Biscanin, A., Fungicidal effect of diode laser irradiation in patients with denture stomatitis (2004) Lasers Surg Med, 35, pp. 259-262Dworkin, M., Endogenous photosensitization in a carotinoidless mutant of Rhodopseudomonas speroides (1958) J Gen Physiol, 43, pp. 1099-1112Rosenberg, B., Kemeny, G., Switzer, R.C., Hamilton, T.C., Quantitative evidence for protein denaturation as the cause of thermal death (1971) Nature, 232, pp. 471-473Krespi, Y.P., Kizhner, V., Nistico, L., Hall-Stoodley, L., Stoodley, P., Laser disruption and killing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms (2011) Am J Otolaryngol, 32, pp. 198-202Shirtliff, M.E., Peters, B.M., Jabra-Rizk, M.A., Cross-kingdom interactions: Candida albicans and bacteria (2009) FEMS Microbiol Lett, 299, pp. 1-8Pereira-Cenci, T., Deng, D.M., Kraneveld, E.A., Manders, E.M.M., del Bel, C.A.A., ten Cate, J.M., The effect of Streptococcus mutans and Candida glabrata on Candida albicans biofilms formed on different surfaces (2008) Arch Oral Biol, 53, pp. 755-764Marsh, P.D., Microbial ecology of dental plaque and its significance in health and disease (1994) Adv Dent Res, 8, pp. 263-271Karkowska-Kuleta, J., Rapala-Kozik, M., Kozik, A., Fungi pathogenic to humans: Molecular bases of virulence of Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus (2009) Acta Biochim Pol, 56, pp. 211-224Thein, Z.M., Samaranayake, Y.H., Samaranayake, L.P., Dietary sugars, serum and the biocide chlorhexidine digluconate modify the population and structural dynamics of mixed Candida albicans and Escherichia coli biofilms (2007) APMIS, 115, pp. 1241-1251Kwieciński, J., Eick, S., Wójcik, K., Effects of tea tre (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil on Staphylococcus aureus in biofilms and stationary phase (2009) Int J Antimicrob Agents, 33, pp. 343-347Wang, Z.C., Fan, L.Y., Jiang, J.Q., Cai, W., Ding, Y., Study on the counting of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Haemophilus actinomycetemcomitans by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium colorimetric method (2010) Hua Xi Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi, 28, pp. 306-310Nguyen, P.T.M., Abranches, J., Phan, T., Marquis, R.E., Repressed respiration of oral Streptococci grow in biofilms (2002) Curr Microbiol, 44, pp. 262-266Singleton, S., Treloar, R., Warren, P., Watson, G.K., Hodgson, R., Allison, C., Methods for microscopic characterization of oral biofilms: Analysis of colonization, microstructure, and molecular transport phenomena (1997) Adv Dent Res, 11, pp. 133-149Jarosz, L.M., Deng, D.M., van der Mei, H.C., Crielaard, W., Krom, B.P., Streptococcus mutans competence-stimulating peptide inhibits Candida albicans hypha formation (2009) Eukaryot Cell, 8, pp. 1658-1664Dortbudak, O., Haas, R., Bernhart, T., Mailath-Pokorny, G., Lethal photosensitization for decontamination of implant surface in the treatment of peri-implantitis (2001) Clin Oral Implant Res, 12, pp. 104-108