Influence of low-level laser therapy on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement

Hafiza Maryam Khurshid; Imtiaz Ahmed; Sadia Rizwan; Hiba Tabassum; Anam Sattar; Taskeen Khan

Influence of low-level laser therapy on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement

Authors

Hafiza Maryam Khurshid Consultant Orthodontist, Clear Path Orthodontics
Imtiaz Ahmed Head of Department, Orthodontics, DIKIOHS, DUHS
Sadia Rizwan Senior Registrar, Orthodontics, DIKIOHS, DUHS, Karachi
Hiba Tabassum Associate Professor, Orthodontics, DIKIOHS, DUHS https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9219-9451
Anam Sattar Assistant Professor, Orthodontics, DIKIOHS, DUHS
Taskeen Khan Registrar, Orthodontics, DIKIOHS, DUHS

Keywords:

low-level laser therapy, Orthodontic tooth movement, 980nm wavelength, canine retraction rate, accelerated tooth movement, randomized control trial

Abstract

Introduction: Methods to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement have been the topic of research to minimize the side effects related to increased treatment time. This study has been conducted to investigate the influence of low-level laser therapy with wavelength 980 nm on orthodontic canine retraction rate.

Methodology: This was a single center split-mouth randomized control trial. 45 patients planned for bilateral first premolars extraction with indirect anchorage, reporting to Orthodontics Department requiring bilateral maxillary first premolar extractions with critical anchorage were included in the study. One side of the maxillary arch was being irradiated by diode laser (aluminum-gallium-arsenide) of 980nm on three points both buccally and palatally and the opposite side of the arch was acted as placebo (control). Laser irradiation was done at initial appointment of premolars extraction (T0), followed by doses and measurements at three weeks interval (T1, T2 and T3).

Results: 53 patients were included in the study. There were eight drop outs leaving 45 patients for analysis. The speed of canine retraction was significantly faster on the experimental side (1.86 ± 0.48mm) compared with the control side (1.24 ± 0.03mm) (P-value < 0.001).

Conclusions: LLLT has a significant effect on OTM by reducing the duration of orthodontic treatment at 3 weekly intervals keeping the energy dose minimal.