The effect of light emitting diode phototherapy on rate of orthodontic tooth movement: a split mouth, controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Objective:: Increasing the rate of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) can reduce risks such as periodontal disease and caries. Trial design:: This split-mouth randomized controlled clinical trial investigated whether light emitting diode (LED) phototherapy could accelerate the rate of OTM. Setting: The study was conducted at the Graduate Orthodontics Clinic at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry. Participants and methods:: 17 dental arches from 11 orthodontic participants with bilaterally symmetrical extraction of premolars were included. During space closure of single tooth extraction sites, LED phototherapy was applied to one side of the dental arch for a specified time and the contralateral side acted as the control. Space closure was measured immediately prior to, during and later in space closure. Results:: All participants were compliant with LED application. Our results revealed no significant changes in the rate of OTM with LED phototherapy over 3 months of extraction space closure. Conclusions:: Our findings were contrary to previous findings of the effect of laser phototherapy on regulating the rate of OTM. Further investigations are warranted to analyse whether the duration or method of LED delivery would have an effect on the rate of OTM. Toronto. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01490385).

Keywords:

• Biostimulation
• laser therapy
• space closure
• split-mouth design
• accelerated tooth movement
• phototherapy