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(2); 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.