Does Low-Level Laser Therapy Enhance the Efficiency of Orthodontic Dental Alignment? Results from a Randomized Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess if low-level laser therapy (LLLT) enhances the efficiency of orthodontic dental alignment.

BACKGROUND

There is no evidence of the effect of LLLT on the orthodontic treatment time from randomized clinical trials.

METHODS

Thirty-six subjects were included in this interventional pilot study and randomly assigned for treatment with fixed appliance and LLLT (test group) or with fixed appliance only (control group). A single monthly administration of LLLT was performed intraorally using a Diode laser (980 nm, 1 W, continuous wave, total energy density = 150 J/cm; Doctor Smile-Lambda Spa). The date of brackets bonding (T1) and the date of complete resolution of dental crowding (T2) were recorded. The alignment treatment time was defined in days as T2 - T1. The number of monthly scheduled control visits was also recorded. Treatment time duration was assessed in both groups with the log-rank (Mantel-Cox) Test for survival analysis. Mann-Whitney U tests was used to compare the number of control visits from T1 to T2 between the two groups.

RESULTS

Patients' age, sex, and amount of crowding were equally distributed between the two groups. The alignment treatment time was significantly shorter (p < 0.001) in the tested group (211.8 days) compared to the control (284.1 days). Consequently, control visits (p < 0.001) were lower in the test group (7 visits, median value) compared to the control group (9.5 visits, median value).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this pilot study suggest that the administration of LLLT might significantly increase the efficiency of orthodontic treatment during dental alignment.