List of Publications by Department for the Academic Year Analgesic Influence of a Low-Level Laser Therapy after Placement of the Initial Orthodontic Archwire (Clinical Comparative Study)
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the pain sensation that orthodontic patients
experience when initial arch wire is placed and to determine the degree of analgesic efficacy
of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) comparing it with a placebo treatment using two different
durations of laser application.
Materials and Methods: This study was carried out as a randomized controlled clinical trial
(split mouth design). The study sample consist of 20 patients (10 females, 10 males), between
the ages of 15 and 25 years. Just before placing the initial NiTi wire a record of pain at time
T1 had taken then the wire placed and fully engaged the bracket slot. The upper right side had
irradiated using 910nm GaAlAs diode laser with an output power of 0.2W for 10s/point and
of 2 j/point, three points were irradiated in the vestibular zone: two points at the third cervical
(mesial and distal) and one in the apical third. After that three points were irradiated at the
palatal zone in the experimental quadrant. The total energy released in all laser-treated teeth
was 12 J. Irradiation was done for 1 min in group A(GA) and 1 min for 2 time in group
B(GB) so that the output power (0.2w) and energy (2j/point) is fixed. The same procedure
had repeated in the contralateral quadrant, but with laser switched off. This procedure was
been done immediate after first wire insertion then it is repeated after 24 hours, 48 hours, and
72 hours. And results had taken using VAS scale before placing the wire and at 5min, 6h,
24h, 48h, 72h, one week, and two weeks after wire insertion.
Results: Pain level reported for the experimental laser side was significantly less than that
reported for the control placebo side (GA t= 0.56, GB t= 0.42) in both groups however the
group B that exposed to laser more time show lower value of pain than group A. The mean
pain value in laser exposed side more than that for placebo side for both groups. The
progression of pain is the same for both groups. LLLT affect the level of pain but did not
affect the onset of pain or the most painful day. GA showed more pain values than GB but
there is no statistical or clinical difference during all the study time.
Conclusion: the application of LLLT after the first wire insertion is an effective way to
decrease orthodontic pain, but the increase of duration of LLLT has no obvious difference.
Key words: LLLT, pain, orthodontic treatment.
Author(s)
Ali Ahmad El Masri
Coauthor(s)
Prof. Essam OSman, Prof. Ahmed Abdel Moneim and Assoc. Prof. Nayer Aboelsaad