BACKGROUND: While dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) show therapeutic potential for spinal cord injury (SCI), post-traumatic oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction critically compromise grafted cell survival. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is a noninvasive approach that may enhance regenerative efficacy. This study investigates whether PBMT improves the survival and neural differentiation of transplanted DPSCs in SCI models. METHODS: In vitro, the anti-apoptotic effects of PBMT were investigated in H RESULTS: PBMT demonstrated protective effects by relieving apoptosis and oxidative stress in engrafted DPSCs in vitro. Furthermore, PBMT-assisted DPSCs transplantation significantly promoted cell survival and neural differentiation, achieving superior functional recovery compared to transplantation alone. CONCLUSIONS: PBMT facilitates DPSCs transplantation in SCI through mitigation of oxidative apoptosis and enhancement of grafted cell survival and differentiation.