Dental and Medical Problems

Dent Med Probl
Index Copernicus (ICV 2021) – 132.50
MEiN – 70 pts
CiteScore (2021) – 2.0
JCI (2021) – 0.5
Average rejection rate (2022) – 79.69%
ISSN 1644-387X (print)
ISSN 2300-9020 (online)
Periodicity – quarterly

Download original text (EN)

Dental and Medical Problems

2020, vol. 57, nr 1, January-March, p. 73–94

doi: 10.17219/dmp/112446

Publication type: review article

Language: English

Download citation:

  • BIBTEX (JabRef, Mendeley)
  • RIS (Papers, Reference Manager, RefWorks, Zotero)

Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 Open Access

Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in accelerating the orthodontic tooth movement: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Skuteczność terapii laserem małej mocy w przyspieszaniu ortodontycznych przesunięć zębowych – systematyczny przegląd piśmiennictwa i metaanaliza

Wesam Mhd Mounir Bakdach1,B,C,D,F, Rania Hadad1,A,C,E,F

1 Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Damascus, Syria

Abstract

Objectives. The aim of the paper was to appraise the current evidence of the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in accelerating the tooth movement. Methods. A comprehensive search was performed in 9 databases up to June 2019. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. The quantitative data synthesis was attainable only for the studies evaluating the effect of laser on canine retraction; the qualitative description was used for the rest of the studies. The overall quality of evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria.
Results. A total of 25 RCTs were included in this review. The radiated upper canines showed a greater retraction – 0.50 mm and 0.49 mm at months 2 and 3, respectively. The radiated lower canines showed a greater retraction – 0.28 mm and 0.52 mm at months 2 and 3, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed among the upper and lower canines after the 1st month of retraction. When the GRADE approach was utilized, the overall quality of evidence limited confidence in the estimates. The qualitative description revealed enhanced tooth movement when LLLT was applied. The attrition bias was the main risk factor affecting the methodology of the studies.
Conclusion. Low-level laser therapy can speed up the rate of the tooth movement. However, the overall quality of evidence ranged from low to very low and the clinical significance of the obtained statistically significant differences is questionable. Hence, more precise studies are needed. As discussed in this review, it is highly recommended to express and compare the laser dosage with the total number of joules applied per month rather than the previously used J/cm2. Moreover, the previous recommendation indicating that lower energy densities (2.5, 5 and 8 J/cm2) are more effective than 20 and 25 J/cm2 is misleading.

Key words

orthodontics, acceleration, lasers, low-level laser therapy

Słowa kluczowe

ortodoncja, przyspieszenie, lasery, terapia laserem małej mocy

References (33)

  1. Roscoe MG, Meira JB, Cattaneo PM. Association of orthodontic force system and root resorption: A systematic review. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2015;147(5):610–626.
  2. Tsichlaki A, Chin SY, Pandis N, Fleming PS. How long does treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances last? A systematic review. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2016;149(3):308–318.
  3. Talic NF. Adverse effects of orthodontic treatment: A clinical perspective. Saudi Dent J. 2011;23(2):55–59.
  4. Huang H, Williams RC, Kyrkanides S. Accelerated orthodontic tooth movement: Molecular mechanisms. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2014;146(5):620–632.
  5. Yoshida T, Yamaguchi M, Utsunomiya T, et al. Low-energy laser irradiation accelerates the velocity of tooth movement via stimulation of the alveolar bone remodeling. Orthod Craniofac Res. 2009;12(4):289-298.
  6. Doshi-Mehta G, Bhad-Patil WA. Efficacy of low-intensity laser therapy in reducing treatment time and orthodontic pain: A clinical investigation. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2012;141(3):289–297.
  7. Ge MK, He WL, Chen J, et al. Efficacy of low-level laser therapy for accelerating tooth movement during orthodontic treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci. 2015;30(5):1609–1618.
  8. de Almeida VL, de Andrade Gois VL, Andrade RN, et al. Efficiency of low-level laser therapy within induced dental movement: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2016;158:258–266.
  9. Imani MM, Golshah A, Safari-Faramani R, Sadeghi M. Effect of low-level laser therapy on orthodontic movement of human canine: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Acta Inform Med. 2018;26(2):139–143.
  10. AlSayed Hasan MMA, Sultan K, Hamadah O. Low-level laser therapy effectiveness in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Angle Orthod. 2017;87(4):499–504.
  11. Caccianiga G, Paiusco A, Perillo L, et al. Does low-level laser therapy enhance the efficiency of orthodontic dental alignment? Results from a randomized pilot study. Photomed Laser Surg. 2017;35(8):421–426.
  12. Al Okla N, Bader DM, Makki L. Effect of photobiomodulation on maxillary decrowding and root resorption: A randomized clinical trial. APOS Trends Orthod. 2018;8(2):86–91.
  13. Varella AM, Revankar AV, Patil AK. Low-level laser therapy increases interleukin-1β in gingival crevicular fluid and enhances the rate of orthodontic tooth movement. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2018;154(4):535–544.
  14. Guram G, Reddy RK, Dharamsi AM, Ismail PM, Mishra S, Prakashkumar MD. Evaluation of low-level laser therapy on orthodontic tooth movement: A randomized control study. Contemp Clin Dent. 2018;9(1):105–109.
  15. Qamruddin I, Alam MK, Mahroof V, Fida M, Khamis MF, Husein A. Effects of low-level laser irradiation on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement and associated pain with self-ligating brackets. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2017;152(5):622–630.
  16. Kochar GD, Londhe SM, Varghese B, Jayan B, Kohli S, Kohli VS. Effect of low-level laser therapy on orthodontic tooth movement. J Indian Orthod Soc. 2017;51(2):81–86.
  17. Üretürk SE, Saraç M, Fıratlı S, Can ŞB, Güven Y, Fıratlı E. The effect of low-level laser therapy on tooth movement during canine distalization. Lasers Med Sci. 2017;32(4):757–764.
  18. Yassaei S, Aghili H, Afshari JT, Bagherpour A, Eslami F. Effects of diode laser (980 nm) on orthodontic tooth movement and interleukin 6 levels in gingival crevicular fluid in female subjects. Lasers Med Sci. 2016;31(9):1751–1759.
  19. Dalaie K, Hamedi R, Kharazifard MJ, Mahdian M, Bayat M. Effect of low-level laser therapy on orthodontic tooth movement: A clinical investigation. J Dent (Tehran). 2015;12(4):249–256.
  20. Kansal A, Kittur N, Kumbhojkar V, Keluskar KM, Dahiya P. Effects of low-intensity laser therapy on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement: A clinical trial. Dent Res J (Isfahan). 2014;11(4):481–488.
  21. Heravi F, Moradi A, Ahrari F. The effect of low level laser therapy on the rate of tooth movement and pain perception during canine retraction. Oral Heal Dent Manag. 2014;13(2):183–188.
  22. Pereira SC da C. Influência do laser de baixa intensidade na movimentação ortodôntica-avaliação clínica e radiográfica (doctoral thesis) [in Portuguese]. Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, 2014.
  23. Souza JMS de. Avaliação da influência do laser de baixa intensidade na movimentação ortodôntica e supressão da dor (doctoral thesis) [in Portuguese]. Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, 2014.
  24. Sousa MV, Scanavini MA, Sannomiya EK, Velasco LG, Angelieri F. Influence of low-level laser on the speed of orthodontic movement. Photomed Laser Surg. 2011;29(3):191–196.
  25. Hosseini MH, Mahmoodzadeh Darbandi M, Kamali A. Effect of low level laser therapy on orthodontic movement in human [in Persian]. J Dent Med. 2011;24(3):156–164.
  26. Limpanichkul W, Godfrey K, Srisuk N, Rattanayatikul C. Effects of low‐level laser therapy on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement. Orthod Craniofac Res. 2006;9(1):38–43.
  27. Cruz DR, Kohara EK, Ribeiro MS, Wetter NU. Effects of low‐intensity laser therapy on the orthodontic movement velocity of human teeth: A preliminary study. Lasers Surg Med. 2004;35(2):117–120.
  28. Samara SA, Nahas AZ, Rastegar-Lari TA. Velocity of orthodontic active space closure with and without photobiomodulation therapy: A single-center, cluster randomized clinical trial. Lasers Dent Sci. 2018;2(2):109–118.
  29. Arumughan S, Somaiah S, Muddaiah S, Shetty B, Reddy G, Roopa S. A comparison of the rate of retraction with low-level laser therapy and conventional retraction technique. Contemp Clin Dent. 2018;9(2):260–266.
  30. Nahas AZ, Samara SA, Rastegar-Lari TA. Decrowding of lower anterior segment with and without photobiomodulation: A single center, randomized clinical trial. Lasers Med Sci. 2017;32(1):129–135.
  31. Kau CH, Kantarci A, Shaughnessy T, et al. Photobiomodulation accelerates orthodontic alignment in the early phase of treatment. Prog Orthod. 2013;14:30.
  32. Ekizer A, Türker G, Uysal T, Güray E, Taşdemir Z. Light emitting diode mediated photobiomodulation therapy improves orthodontic tooth movement and miniscrew stability: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Lasers Surg Med. 2016;48(10):936–943.
  33. Caccianiga G, Crestale C, Cozzani M, et al. Low-level laser therapy and invisible removal aligners. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2016;30(2 Suppl 1):107–113.