Table 4 Comparison with previous studies that evaluated LLLT application for orthodontic pain reduction following initial orthodontic archwire placement
Authors | Study design | Number of patients (M:F) and mean age (years) | intervention-group: control-group size | Active medium specifications | Energy per point (J) | Energy per tooth (J) | Energy density per point (J/cm2) | Application points and application time | Application frequency | Evaluation times after treatment application | Evaluation method | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Turhani et al. [25] (2006) | CCT | 76 (30:46) 23.1 | 38 (LLLT):38(control) | GaAlAs 670 nm 75 mW continuous mode | 2.25 | 2.25 | 4.25 | One buccal point 30 s/tooth | Single application | After 6, 30, and 54 h | NRS | Yes |
Tortamano et al. [20] (2009) | RCT | 60 (18:42) 15.9 | 20 (LLLT):20 (placebo):20 (control) | GaAlAs 830 nm 30 mW continuous mode | 0.5 | 5 | 5 per tooth | 10 points (5 buccal - 5 palatal) 16 s/point | Single application | After 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days | NRS | Yes |
Bayani et al. [8] (2016) | RCT | 100 (66:34) 17.6 | 20 (placebo):20 (ibuprofen):20 (bite wafer):20 (low-level red laser):20 (low-level infrared laser ) | GaAlAs 810 nm 200 mW continuous mode | 1 | 6 | 3.6 per tooth | 6 points (3 buccal - 3 lingual) 30 s/tooth | Single application | After 2 and 6 h, at bed time the same day, and after 1, 2, 3, and 7 days | VAS | Yes |
Qamruddin et al. [24] (2018) | RCT (split-mouth) | 42 (16:26) 19.81 | 42 (LLLT):42 (Placebo) | AlGaAs 940 nm 100 mW continuous mode | – | – | 7 | 10 points (5 buccal - 5 lingual) 30 s/tooth | Single application | Consecutive 12 h intervals for 7 days | NRS | Yes |
Giudice et al. [23] (2018) | RCT | 84 (41:43) 16.5 | 30 (LLLT):30 (placebo):30 (control) | 980 nm 1 W continuous mode | – | – | 150 per arch | 6 segments of the mandibular dental arch 150 s/arch | 3 times of irradiation per application with 2 min interval | After 2, 6, and 24 h and from day 2 to day 7 | NRS | Yes |
This study | RCT | 26 (6:20) 20.07 | 13 (LLLT):13 (placebo) | GaAlAs 830 nm 150 mW Continuous mode | 2 | 8 | 2.25 | 4 points (2 buccal - 2 palatal) 15 s/point | Single application | After 1, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h | VAS | No |